Stunning influencer sparks fury by asking sports activities star lewd query as followers rage
An influencer has sparked social media fury with her actions at a major sporting event as she asked stars lewd questions
Erola Jons was employed by the Vuelta to boos their social media presence(Image: @erolajons/Instagram)
An influencer has sparked fury with her actions at a major sporting event – as fans fumed on social media.
Erola Jons was employed by the organisers of the Vuelta a Espana, cycling’s final grand tour of the season, to try and bring some new eyes to the race. However, their decision spectacularly backfired during the opening stage – a time-trial around Monaco.
“Take me for a ride too,” she asked five-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar. And during another clip, she told the camera: “I don’t know where this guy is in the general classification, but in mine he’s number one.”
Tadej Pogacar was the winner of the opening stage(Image: Getty Images)
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
However, the most awkward moment came after the stage, when Pogacar was ready to take his new leaders jersey. “Pogachitar, congratulations,” she said: “Why do you hyperventilate every time you see me?”
The Slovenian superstar didn’t look too impressed with the questions – as he wasn’t in the mixed zone and responded: “What? I breathe 24/7, thank you…” Erola was then pushed away by a member of UAE Team Emirates XRG’s staff.
However, her most lewd comment was still to come: “It’s getting hot seeing all this Lycra, and so tight…If they’re changing, even better, that’ll boost the audience. Yes, he’s changing, you can see through the jersey a little and it’s not bad… I like it.”
Tadej Pogacar appeared irritated by the influencer’s questions(Image: X)
UAE confirmed to Velo that they expressed their opinions on the incident to race officials and organisers have since restricted Erola’s access. Reports suggest she has been banned from talking to riders and told to adjust her tone.
However, there was still social media fury towards the influencer: “This is diabolical,” one fan fumed, questioning the decision.
“Who thought hiring an influencer that knows nothing about cycling culture is a good idea,” a second said. While a third posted: “The only thing it makes me feel is secondhand embarrassment!”
Erola Jons has a sizeable following on social media(Image: @erolajons/Instagram)
Eurosport Journalist Laura Meseguer expressed her fury on Instagram: “Many women have spent years fighting to expand our space in a male-dominated sport, so that we are treated with respect and have the same opportunities as everyone else.
“It is a serious mistake to hire someone with absolutely no knowledge of the sport, whose content will be based on this series of sexist comments that we women have been trying to escape from for decades!!!
“It is a lack of respect towards us, towards the female professionals working here and, above all, towards the cyclists. No one should have to put up with being treated like an object, neither women nor men.”
