Groupop-FDJ cyclist Jacopo Guarnieri also protested almost unnoticed against the Hungarian anti-gay law at the Giro d’Italia team show in Budapest. Attila Valter’s teammate only talked about it after the Giro field left for Italy.
Guarnieri took to the podium last Wednesday by wearing a pink-white-light blue wristband, all in favor of transgender rights.
“It was a kind of quiet but not silent message,” Guarnieri told reporters on the Sicilian day off.
Several questioned why Giro’s rights holder, RCS Sport, brought the competition to Hungary when homophobic and transphobic laws were in place in the country, but the organizers also avoided this topic.
“Basically, this topic has been occupied for a long time, because, as you all know, the law was passed in Hungary in the middle of 2021. (refers here to the anti-gay pedophile law). I already talked to Attila Valter about this in December and asked him how he felt in the country and so on. This idea has long occupied me, ”Guarnieri was quoted as saying Cyclingnews.
The biker, who has stood up for LGBTQ rights at other times, first wanted to wear a rainbow flag, but later decided to show the transgender flag in light blue, pink and white. Eventually, he entered the team presentation stage with an armband of this color. (Guarnieri is pictured on the left.)
The Groupama-FDJ team also saw the move as risky, so they decided that Giro reporters could only talk to Guarnieri about their protest after the race left Hungary.
“I thought it might upset someone, but I was thinking more of the general public than politicians. I thought maybe someone would try to hit me in my time trial. But I thought about it, and then I came up with, “Well, I could handle a blow«. So I said, “Okay, why not?”. After all, this is Europe, so let’s give it a try. I was sure I could deliver the message without risk, ”Guarneiri said.
The cyclist said he received a lot of recognition in the social media for his deed, but his stand remained unheard of in the field, and he received neither positive nor negative comments from his competitors.
The Italian rider has repeatedly spoken out in favor of social affairs, repeatedly criticizing far-right politicians such as Matteo Salvini or Marie Le Pent.
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