"If they want to ruin these moments with fines...": the UCI fined him for celebrating his brother's first victory in the World Cup

The Australian champion Luke Meier-Smith achieved his first victory in an Elite DH World Cup in Lake Placid last weekend. At the finish line, his brother Remy didn't hesitate to jump over the fence to celebrate with him, something that the UCI has deemed worthy of a sanction.

UCI fines Remy Meier-Smith with 200 euros for celebrating Luke's first elite victory

While Luke was still processing his victory, his brother Remy, also a World Cup rider with Pivot Factory Racing, jumped over the finish line barriers to embrace him. A spontaneous, sincere reaction celebrated by the crowd, but considered by the UCI as a "lack of respect for the organization's instructions." The result: a fine of 200 Swiss francs (about 207 euros) imposed on Remy.

The reaction was immediate. Luke, still euphoric after the race, spoke with Wyn Masters on his usual WynTV:

"Yes, they fined him, but it was worth it for the moment. I'll pay it if necessary. If they want to ruin moments like this with fines... let them do it."

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The gesture of the Meier-Smith brothers was not only celebrated by fans, but also by the UCI and Warner Bros. Discovery, who shared the images of the embrace on their social media as part of the official event summary. A difficult contradiction to understand that has sparked criticism on social media, where many describe the sanction as absurd or "anti-cycling."

 

 

 

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Even some fans and paddock figures tried to raise money to cover the fine, with Wyn Masters joking live about having already collected 50 dollars for the "Meier-Smith fund."

Beyond the controversy, Luke Meier-Smith's triumph in Lake Placid, the first DH World Cup event held at this new American venue, marks a milestone in his career. After qualifying second in the qualifying run behind American Luca Shaw, the Giant Factory Off-Road Team rider delivered a nearly perfect final run, with a mix of technical skill and aggressive pedaling that gave him an unreachable victory.

Now, the Australian brothers travel to Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada) for the final event of the season, where the title will be decided between Jackson Goldstone and Loïc Bruni, separated by just a few points in the overall standings.