Australian stands behind sentiments but admits that comments were not all “that eloquent” over minimum wage for women issue
Australian sprinter Chloe Hosking (Specialized-lululemon) has publicly acknowledged that her personal criticism of International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid, after her opening stage victory in the Jayco Bay Classic, was inappropriate. The 21-year-old referred to the Irishman as “a dick” to the Sidney Morning Herald (SMH), in reference to his comments in October, when he said that women’s cycling has “not developed enough” to warrant a minimum wage.
Hosking had just observed that the manner of her breakaway victory in the Geelong stage showed how exciting women’s racing can be. While there has long been a minimum wage in men’s cycling, at Professional Continental and WorldTour levels, few teams in the women’s sport pay their riders properly and some receive no money whatsoever.
“There has just been some really negative things said in the press lately about how women's racing is boring and how we don't deserve a minimum salary,” she said.
When the SMH put it to the sprinter that even those at the very top of the sport were among those she spoke of, she made her controversial comment.
''What can be said? Pat McQuaid's a dick.
''To say at the biggest sporting event of women's cycling that we're not progressed enough to have a minimum salary," she added. "I mean, how do we progress if we all have to still work and we can't support ourselves?''
Hosking’s comments were not well received by Cycling Australia, the country’s officially recognised cycling body, who told the SMH that they would be seeking an explanation from the rider before deciding on disciplinary action.
“All our members have the right to express views contrary to those of the UCI but it is not acceptable for any member of Cycling Australia to personally denigrate others,” its statement said.
With Hosking holding on to her overall lead in the Jayco Bay Classics standings, the press was given the opportunity to ask the sprinter about the reaction to her words.
"I have to apologise for how I phrased my comments, I wasn't that eloquent," she said according to Channel 9's Wide World of Sports. "But women's cycling every year is getting stronger and stronger.
"It needs to get more recognition and I'm not going to apologise for what I said,” she added defiantly, “but I do apologise for how I said it."
"There have obviously been articles all over the place and it's gotten the world talking about women's cycling, hasn't it?" concluded the Australian.
McQuaid has declined to comment on Hosking’s words, but the rider is planning to write a formal letter of apology to the UCI president.