Tour de France: Bora-Hansgrohe refuses Russia question to Vlasov
DPA
· 29.06.2022
When the Russian captain Aleksandr Vlasov was asked in a video conference via chat what he thought of the fact that Russian tennis professionals are currently excluded from Wimbledon, but that he could compete in the Tour de France, the question was not passed on by the press spokesman.
Press spokesman rejects request
The spokesperson declined another journalist's request to ask Vlasov this question with a "Nope" and ended the interview. The tour begins on 1 July in Copenhagen.
The driver from the Team Bora-Hansgrohe had previously spoken publicly about the war at the beginning of March. "Like many Russians, I only want peace. I am not a political person and people like me were not asked if we wanted a war. It was a shock for everyone and I hope it will end soon," Vlasov wrote at the time on Instagram.
Denk comments
His team boss Ralph Denk told the German Press Agency: "For me, diversity is also about standing behind a person, no matter where they come from. Because this person, who is called Aleksandr Vlasov in our country, is the least responsible for the fact that Russia and Ukraine are at war. Other men are responsible for the war there, but certainly not a Russian citizen who is pursuing his passion, sport."
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