'I will pee in the bottle to not pee in somebody's front yard' – Victor Campenaerts confesses to being pioneer of 'pee-gate'

Victor Campenaerts has admitted to being the originator of a controversial practice during the Giro d’Italia, where riders urinate into bottles rather than relieving themselves in public. The race jury recently issued a strict warning against this behaviour, which is prohibited under UCI regulations. The incident, dubbed ‘pee-gate’ by the media, sparked a search for the rider responsible, with several fellow competitors pointing to Campenaerts as the pioneer of the practice. Key details emerged as Belgian riders Arjen Livyns and Oliver Naesen named Campenaerts alongside the retired Peter Sagan as the only riders known to urinate in bottles during races. Campenaerts himself was fined 200 Swiss francs for urinating in public during the race, an offence that also damaged the sport’s image. The governing body’s rules explicitly forbid urinating in public during races and mandate responsible disposal of bottles, highlighting the seriousness of the infraction. In a candid Instagram vlog, Campenaerts explained his rationale, emphasising the lack of proper facilities and the need to respect the public and roadside spectators. He argued that urinating in bottles was a way to avoid offending residents or crowds lining the route, especially during long stages lasting up to seven hours. Despite acknowledging that he may have “invented” the practice, Campenaerts pledged to cease it following the UCI’s prohibition. The controversy sheds light on the practical challenges faced by professional cyclists during extended races and the tension between natural needs and race regulations. While no further fines have been issued since the initial warning, the incident has sparked debate about how race organisers might better accommodate riders’ needs. For now, Campenaerts’s admission appears to have brought the ‘pee-gate’ saga to a close, but it raises questions about the balance between athlete welfare and public decorum in elite cycling.