Mario De Clercq resigns

Mario De Clercq handed in his resignation as a teacher for the cycling school in Ronse yesterday. After De Clercq was suspended for four years (two of which are effective) by the Belgian Cycling Union, pressure was put on the director of the Royal Athenaeum to fire the former cyclo-cross world champion. "Because the journalists wouldn't back off and leave director Frank Vercleyen in peace, I have decided to resign from the job as part-time teacher," said De Clercq.

Earlier, Mr Vercleyen had said that he would only fire De Clercq if he was also found guilty in civil court.