- Pro cyclist Quinn Simmons was suspended by Trek-Segafredo for sending a “divisive” tweet on September 30.
- In a statement, Trek team manager Luca Guercilena said, “We remain committed to helping Quinn as much as we can.”
On Wednesday, Team Trek suspended 19-year-old American cycling hopeful Quinn Simmons from racing “until further notice” after he posted tweets in support of President Donald Trump, which the team described as “divisive, incendiary, and damaging.”
Dutch cycling journalist José Been posted a now-deleted tweet that read, “My dear American friends, I hope this horrible presidency ends for you. And for us a (former?) allies, too. If you follow me and support Trump, you can go. There is zero excuse to follow or vote for the vile, horrible man.”
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Simmons, who is white, responded to that tweet by posting the word “bye” and a hand-waving emoji in a black skin tone. In another tweet, he confirmed his support of the president.
Announcing Quinn’s suspension, the team called the post “divisive, inflammatory and harmful to the team, professional cycling.”
Later, the team clarified the reason for the suspension in a second statement.
“Quinn Simmons has not been suspended for his political opinions. He was suspended for engaging in a conversation on Twitter in a way that we felt was inappropriate for a Trek athlete,” it said.
The statement included an explanation from the rider.
“For those who find the color of the emoji racist, I can promise you that it was not my intention that it should be interpreted in this way,” said Simmons.
“I would like to apologize to all those who found it offensive because I am firmly opposed to racism in all its forms.”
Simmons joined Trek-Segafredo this year after winning the 2019 junior road world championship in England.
