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Johan Bruyneel didn’t take well to the UCI reminding him he’s banned from the Tour de France.
The controversial – and very, very banned – former sport director blasted UCI chief David Lappartient after the governing body warned him away from attending the Tour.
“It seems that the president of the UCI, David “The Selfie King” Lappartient, didn’t like the fact that I visited the Tour de France last week,” Bruyneel posted Tuesday night to X.
“I’ve said already many times, also to him personally, that I find his attitude being one of hypocrisy. After receiving this press statement, I have contacted him personally again, but he hasn’t responded (yet).”
Bruyneel managed the U.S. Postal Service and Discovery Channel teams and worked with Lance Armstrong during the Texan’s now-void Tour de France campaigns.
Bruyneel was banned for life from the sport in 2018 due to anti-doping rules violations.
Yet the 60-year-old was swanning around the Tour de France start village last Thursday wearing a race accreditation. The controversial Belgian was on the ground as part of his guest spot with the VRT broadcaster’s Vive le Vélo show.
It prompted a terse warning Tuesday from the UCI toward Bruyneel and Tour de France organizer ASO – why was the Belgian allowed a pass?
It seems that the president of the UCI, David “The Selfie King” Lappartient, @DLappartient didn’t like the fact that I visited the Tour de France last week. I’ve said already many times, also to him personally, that I find his attitude being one of hypocrisy. After receiving this… https://t.co/Wq8yEpMTX6
— Johan Bruyneel (@JohanBruyneel) July 22, 2025
‘Bruyneel was simply accredited by ASO’
Vive le Vélo host Karl Vannieuwkerke weighed in during the Tuesday evening show.
“We applied for accreditation just as we do for every guest. There was never any objection whatsoever,” Vannieuwkerke said. “Bruyneel was simply accredited by ASO.”
Bruyneel signed off his own message to the UCI with a passive-aggressive punch.
“I would like to reiterate how pleasant it was to be present at the Tour and truly appreciate the many warm welcome gestures from the people I met on this occasion,” Bruyneel wrote Tuesday.
“I’m waiting for your reply to my messages on my WhatsApp, David Lappartient.”
Bruneel hasn’t posted any messages since. Maybe he’s too busy exchanging WhatsApps with “The Selfie King.”
ASO has not provided a statement on the matter.