Fair Play Award at Giro d’Italia
At the start of the Giro d’Italia in Budapest, French cyclist Romain Bardet received the Fair Play Award from Dr. Jenő Kamuti, President of the International Fair Play Committee.
Bardet deserves the award for his exemplary act in the Liège–Bastogne–Liège race two weeks ago. World champion Julian Alaphilippe was involved in a serious crash about 60 kilometres from the finish, which caused him to land in a bedside on the side of the road and hit a pine tree. The crash broke several ribs and his shoulder blade. Romain Bardet, Team DSM rider, saw this and immediately stopped, went down into the bedside to help his compatriot and stayed there not caring about his own result, until help arrived. Bardet’s exemplary human act immediately made the world press.
« I’m very touched by your posts, but I honestly think anyone in this situation would have absolutely done the same, reacted Bardet on Instagram after the race. There is no competition in the face of the danger of physical integrity. » said the Team DSM rider, and continued: « I see Julian, I see he’s really bad. He can barely breathe, he is unable to speak, unable to move. And there, I have a flash that makes me feel like I’m the only one to see that he’s there, that he’s in pain and that the race goes on without paying attention to it, he said. The motorcycles leave, the cars too and I’m there, in the ditch, I’m screaming alone in the void and no one hears me. It is an immense distress. I felt like he was going to stay there, all alone, forever. »
The International Fair Play Committee received two nominations on the same day and on the same time, one from Sara Tringer, MOB sports official, and one from Gábor Arató, former cycling champion and Giro d’Italia race judge, which, along with the others, we thank them for.
Jenő Kamuti held several meetings during Giro events, including a meeting with David Lappartient, President of The International Cycling Union (UCI). The French sport leader confirmed that Fair Play is an area of paramount importance in sport and was particularly pleased that Romain Bardet presented with the Award at the Giro’s Grand Partenza. In his reply, President Kamuti underlined and thanked the Italian Giro organizers for their absolute partnership as well the professional cooperation of the Dutch Team DSM. The meeting was also attended by Enrico Della Casa, President of the European Cycling Union (UEC). Stephen Roche, former world champion, Tour and Giro winning Irish rider, who was awarded with Fair Play Career Award by Jenő Kamuti earlier this year, also participated the event.
Text: Gabor Deregan/CIFP; photos: Team DSM, Róth Tamás
