Exceptionally bizarre story regarding World Gravel Championship: former Belgian top chef banned due to identity fraud

Remarkable news from Belgium, where a well-known chef has been banned from the World Gravel Championship (in his own country). The reason? Fraud! The former top chef allowed a better rider to compete with his back number to qualify. So writes the Gazet van Antwerpen.

It is not the first time Luc Bellings, the man in question, has cheated at a race. Previously, he also ventured into medical fraud. In Rapertingen, he was caught for doping in 2014. And that happened during his cycling race called "Luc Bellings & Friends." Bellings tested positive for the use of testosterone and immediately admitted its use at the time.

Now, exactly ten years later, Bellings is in trouble again. The former manager of the widely acclaimed Hasselt restaurant "De Vork" was planning to compete in his region at the World Gravel Championships, to be exact in the 55-59 age category. However, he had to qualify through a qualifying round to do so. He chose the Houffa Gravel Fondo (Aug. 24) but unfairly competed in that race.

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UCI will look into issue Bellings, Zonneveld has to laugh

According to the complaint filed, Bellings had traded his back number and frame plate (including a built-in chip) with those of a teammate shortly before the start. That teammate reportedly came on so strong in the Ardennes that he had to let himself be caught up in the final kilometers, or he would have been on the podium.

Bellings, who now lives in Spain and runs a bike store there, had a World Championship ticket in his pocket. Until Belgian Cycling looked into the matter following several reports. "The case was investigated and passed on to the International Cycling Union UCI. The competent authority in this matter," the Belgian federation stated.

It is unclear whether Bellings will face a sanction and its severity. However, the former chef's name is no longer on the start list for the World Gravel Championships. The special message has been shared surprisingly often on the Internet. Even AD journalist Thijs Zonneveld could not contain his digital laughter when he learned about it.