🎥 Jordi Meeus under heavy fire after kamikaze move causes crash in Gent–Wevelgem

Jordi Meeus didn’t make many friends on Sunday in Gent–Wevelgem. The 26-year-old Belgian rider for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe was considered an outsider for the win, but during the race, he stood out for all the wrong reasons—namely an irresponsible move on an inside corner that led to a crash.

Fortunately, none of the riders involved were seriously injured, but Meeus now awaits potential punishment after diving up the inside on a left-hand turn via the sidewalk. He lost control and slid, taking down other riders in the process—and crashing himself as well. The race jury allowed Meeus to continue, a decision that drew heavy criticism on social media.

French cycling journalist Antoine Besson of Eurosport drew a clear comparison to Filip Maciejuk, who in the 2023 Tour of Flanders moved up through the grass verge in similar fashion, lost control, and crashed back into the peloton, causing a major pile-up. That incident was immediately recognized for its severity—Maciejuk was disqualified on the spot and later handed a one-month suspension.

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Meeus gets off lightly after reckless move in the peloton

Jordi Meeus was not disqualified on Sunday, despite his reckless move—he was allowed to continue. Perhaps because the crash didn’t have major consequences, though his maneuver was certainly condemned. “Jordi Meeus carelessly blasts through the corner and causes five riders to crash,” noted cycling analyst Benji Naesen. Others labeled him a “mad man.” “Kamikaze move by Jordi Meeus resulting in a crash... This is a yellow card, has to be, right?!” Eurosport exclaimed.

Back to Antoine Besson, who was the only one to draw a comparison with Maciejuk. “I see no other possible sanction than disqualification. This is the same behavior Maciejuk showed in the Tour of Flanders. You want to move up, lose control of your bike, and wipe out others in the process. Out!”

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