The Vuelta invited Erola Jons, a Spanish influencer, to stream after the first stage. During the broadcast, she asked a soigneur with Togging Tarling if he was there to distract journalists and she called taughtadede. This behavior led to critical comments from journalist Laura Meseguer on Instagram, especially since the stream had limited viewership, under 11,000 at the time of analysis.
It feels wrong to prioritize viral exposure over professional standards, particularly when it interferes with the riders' private duties and the work of accredited media. Should race organizers give official media credentials to influencers who lack sporting knowledge? If they do, how does that impact the balance of journalist access and rider privacy?