Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Lorena Wiebes can look back on a very successful World Track Cycling World Championship with two world titles, but the championship ended in a low key. In the pairs race she (together with her pairmate Lisa van Belle) crashed hard. Afterwards there was not only physical pain, but she also became a victim of online hatred.
Wiebes made herself heard on her Instagram page after her hard fall last Saturday. “Fortunately, I have a strong body and everything is – under the circumstances – okay,” she wrote with a screenshot of a hate message on Facebook.
In this Facebook message, a certain ‘Baerke’ wishes Wiebes as many broken bones as possible. “That she can no longer take anything away from anyone for the time being. The most unsportsmanlike sportswoman in existence. KARMA,” was the response. Wiebes responded cynically to the dismal message. “People are so nice these days.”
Also hate messages after the Clay World Cup
It is certainly not the first time that the top sprinter of SD Worx-Protime has had to deal with hate messages. After the much-discussed World Cup on clay, it was not only Yara Kastelijn – who closed the gap on compatriot Shirin van Anrooij in the last kilometers of the race – that was the target, but also winner Wiebes.
In a statement, KNWU Director Maurice Leeser felt called to stand up for Kastelijn, who received the most criticism. “The KNWU has taken note of the online reactions and reporting surrounding the elite women’s race, and we understand that sport is emotional and evokes emotions. However, we are shocked by the way in which some of our riders have been personally approached via social media after the race.”
“In our view, it is completely unacceptable that athletes, who work with full dedication and pride, are confronted with derogatory, insulting or intimidating reactions. This can never be the intention of such a tournament or event within our cycling community. Insulting or belittling riders via social media is in no way acceptable.”
