Organizers for IC cyclo-cross event apologize for announcer’s remarks

Organizers for IC cyclo-cross event apologize for announcer’s remarks
AP/Des Moines Register
10-6-18

Organizers of last weekend’s cyclo-cross event in Iowa City have apologized for demeaning remarks about women that a public address announcer made during this year’s competition.

In an Instagram post, Lindsay Knight, a Chicago-based professional cyclo-cross racer, said the announcer’s comments made her feel “mocked and demeaned”. Knight says the announcer, identified as longtime cyclo-cross announcer Larry Longo, encouraged women to smile and look like they were “having fun”, and referred to female racers as “the wives having a miserable time”.

Race director John Meehan told The Des Moines Register Longo made “disrespectful” remarks that were not “family oriented”.

In Knight’s Instagram post, she alleged that Longo said that “fun” stuff happens at the bar after dark with too much alcohol and that “the moms can calm down” because their husbands will be done racing soon.

Meehan told the Register that Longo would no longer be announcing races.

Iowa City’s Jingle Cross race is the largest cyclo-cross event in North America.