It’s safe to say that there are some people in the world who would be better off not posting on Twitter. Or having an agent manage their feed. Today, Team Sky cyclist Peter Kennaugh proved he’s probably one of them.
When Emma Pooley spoke out with a response to the allegations around Shane Sutton, commenting that sexism was just as rife under predecessor Dave Brailsford, Kennaugh waided in.
Pooley’s key argument was that Brailsord never set up a women’s team, akin to Team Sky, that may have helped her succeed in the Women’s Giro Rosa.
Speaking to the Guardian, she said:“Why didn’t anyone ask how it could be that a publicly funded body like British Cycling joined together with a privately funded team – Sky – on a mission to get a British winner of the Tour de France within five years? Why wasn’t there a similar plan for the women? The women’s Giro d’Italia was the most important race for women but where was the funding for that? I came second twice and no one from British Cycling offered to put together a team to help me win it.”
In response, Kennaugh commented on the social media platform… “why would sky put money into women’s giro that absolutely no one in the UK has absolutely no idea about. Stop being so self centered and get over it.”
Oh dear. pic.twitter.com/Rz4FxvXzn3
— Kevin Bolton (@kevinjbolton1) April 28, 2016
Kennaugh, having “re-read” the tweet, realised that perhaps it may have come across as very slightly offensive (purely down to the wording of course) and deleted his messages, posting:
I’ve re-read the tweet i deleted and realise i came across like a total idiot im sorry to anyone i may have offended in how they were worded
— Peter kennaugh (@Petekennaugh) April 28, 2016
The positive news is that the good people of Twitter quickly came to Pooley’s side – here are just a few reactions…
And, quite frankly, any white, privileged male who tells someone oppressed to ‘get over it’ should never race again. CC: Kennaugh ????????
— Amanda Batty (@theamandabatty) April 28, 2016
Pete Kennaugh is tweeting and deleting faster than an Di2 gear shift.. Just saw one disappear in front of my eyes…
— Jersey Pocket Howard (@TheJerseyPocket) April 28, 2016
Kennaugh pretty much proving why BC needs to sort this out. living in 1916 not 2016.
— Maryka Sennema (@smaryka) April 28, 2016
I imagine this is how a man with Peter Kennaugh’s open mind thinks the Giro Donne looks… pic.twitter.com/mVUhyvMTLc
— Chris Pedder (@ChrispyPedder) April 28, 2016
“im sorry to anyone i may have offended,” the classic non-apology apology. https://t.co/HlUiCeKdm1
— Michele Smith (@mingshan) April 28, 2016
Kennaugh argh face palm to the max! Must have been on the booze? Stark silence by the rest of the BC chosen flock.
— Stuart Spies (@toomuchstu) April 28, 2016
The battle goes on. If there’s one good thing we can take from it, it’s that the neanderthals are being weeded out.
