A Belgian professional racing cyclist has claimed she was refused a management role in a men’s cycling team because of previous modelling photoshoots which were deemed ‘inappropriate’.
Tara Gins, 30, rode professionally between 2016 and 2018 for the Lares–Waowdeals and Health Mate–Cyclelive Team squads based in Belgium, and is also a director for Belgian amateur team S-Bikes AGU.
But Tara, who often delights her 22,600 Instagram followers with scantily clad photographs, has had her latest career efforts thwarted by her past modelling shoots.
Taking to her social media account over the weekend, Tara claimed she had an offer to join an unnamed men’s team as a director – the role of coach – revoked over ‘inappropriate’ photos from her paid modelling gigs.
It was apparently suggested that the team’s sponsors would dislike any association with the images, which Tara believes refers to her near-naked photoshoot in Playboy and a topless calendar not widely available, according to Cycling News.
However, a disgusted Tara insisted ‘those were photos I wouldn’t hurt anyone with.’
Tara Gins (pictured), 30, rode professionally between 2016 and 2018 for the Lares–Waowdeals and Health Mate–Cyclelive Team squads based in Belgium, and is also a director for Belgian amateur team S-Bikes AGU
But Tara (pictured), who often delights her 22,600 Instagram followers with scantily clad photographs, has had her latest career efforts thwarted by her past modelling shoots
Speaking in a recent Instagram story, Tara said: ‘I had a verbal agreement to join a team. I was really looking forward to that. It’s what I like to do. I want to learn and be in the support vehicle.
‘But now apparently someone has made a problem of a photo in a book. I don’t mind now that the agreement was canceled. It is better this way.
‘I don’t want to work with people who don’t see my capabilities and just walk with the herd. In cycling, too much thinking is still done inside the box. That’s a shame.’
Taking to her social media account over the weekend, Tara (pictured) claimed she had an offer to join an unnamed men’s team as a director – the role of coach – revoked over ‘inappropriate’ photos from her paid modelling gigs
She added: ‘Those were photos I wouldn’t hurt anyone with. Apparently these are now too inappropriate to work with riders. Apparently, a photo is more important than capabilities or experience.’
Explaining how she had a verbal agreement to be a third director for the team, Tina said she was called by the employer on January 23 to cancel the arrangement and explained his reasons why.
‘He started the conversation by saying that he was breaking off the commitment that we had because someone on the team, a staff member came across pictures of me,’ she told the publication.
She was apparently told that the pictures were circulated around the team’s group chat and one person ‘threatened the manager to send those pictures to one of the sponsors’.
It was apparently suggested that the team’s sponsors would dislike any association with the images, which Tara (pictured) believes refers to her near-naked photoshoot in Playboy and a topless calendar not widely available, according to Cycling News
Tara admitted that she wasn’t sure which photographs the team referred to, but suggested they could’ve been from her Playboy photoshoot – where she was mostly nude, but with some areas covered.
She also mentioned a calendar where she was topless, which was released this year for an unnamed company and its workers only.
Tara also revealed on her Instagram account that she was sexually assaulted when she was a rider and opened up about the ‘double-standards’ she experienced in the cycling industry.
‘In all the years that I have raced, I have already experienced so many negative things with team leaders,’ she explained.
Speaking in a recent Instagram story, Tara (pictured) said: ‘I had a verbal agreement to join a team. I was really looking forward to that. It’s what I like to do. I want to learn and be in the support vehicle’
‘I was literally assaulted. Once a mechanic crept into the shower with me after a workout. I was once kissed by someone on the staff, and I had to push that person away from me.
‘I once had very inappropriate comments from team managers about how I looked, about my weight.’
She added: ‘I’ve always argued against that, I’ve always pushed it off. But all of the things I’ve been through make this even more frustrating.
‘I have now stopped racing and want to do my own things, get opportunities. And then they are taken back by those j****, sorry so to speak, who have a double standard. Apparently, as a man, you can do a little more in the world.’
During her posts on her Instagram stories, Tara thanked her fans for supporting her.