Yahoo Finance Cyclist 'denied role on men's team' after nude photos come to light
Belgian cyclist Tara Gins has made stunning claims that she was denied a management job on a professional men’s team because of nude photos.
The 30-year-old star posed for Playboy last year and has also featured in a nude calendar.
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But Gins says she was unceremoniously shown the door after agreeing to work as a director for an unnamed men's team.
“I had a verbal agreement to join a team,” she told Cycling News.
“I was really looking forward to that. It’s what I like to do. I want to learn and be in the support vehicle.
“But now apparently someone has made a problem of a photo in a book.
“I don’t mind now that the agreement was cancelled. It is better this way.
“I don’t want to work with people who don’t see my capabilities and just walk with the herd. In cycling, too much thinking is still done inside the box. That’s a shame.”
Gins rode professionally from 2016 to 2018, but has since stepped away from competing.
She rode for Lares–Waowdeals and Health Mate–Cyclelive Team in Belgium.
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As well as the nude photo shoots she often posts risque snaps on her Instagram page.
“[The team boss] started the conversation by saying that he was breaking off the commitment that we had because someone on the team, a staff member came across pictures of me,” Gins claimed.
“That person sent the pictures in a group chat to the other staff members. Apparently, it was a chat that I was not included in.
“Someone must have threatened the manager to send those pictures to one of the sponsors because that person has I don’t know what kind of relationship with the sponsor.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure what photos they are talking about.
“In May last year, I did a photoshoot for Playboy and then two months later I did another photoshoot for a calendar for a Belgian company.
“These calendars are only sent to their company customers, so you can’t find the pictures online. You can only see the pictures if you work for the company.
“That calendar came out in the first week of January, and so I am guessing that it was the pictures in the calendar.”
Gins said the photos “wouldn’t hurt anyone”.
“Apparently these are now too inappropriate to work with riders. Apparently, a photo is more important than capabilities or experience,” she added.
“In all the years that I have raced, I have already experienced so many negative things with team leaders or soigneurs.
“I have now stopped racing and want to do my own things, get opportunities.
“And then they are taken back by those jerks, so to speak, who have a double standard. Apparently, as a man, you can do a little more in the world.”
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