Claude Criquielion vs Steve Bauer: “The CRASH!” WCRR 1988 in Ronse (Renaix)

The biggest cycling controversy of the 1988 racing season came in Renaix (Ronse), Belgium. The 274 km World Championship Road Race lacked any excitement for most of the day as an eleven-rider breakaway approached the finish. Belgian favorite Claude Criquielion attacked on the final climb of the Kruisberg with Maurizio Fondriest sitting on his wheel. Canadian Steve Bauer saw the move and bridged to the two leaders with little less than 1 km to go.

From the front position Steve Bauer led out an uphill sprint into a strong wind coming from the left side of the course. The Canadian moved the trio from left to right trying to force the sprint come around on the windy side. Bauer admitted: “Into the wind I was trying to leave very little room” and make Claude come around on the windy side.

Belgian Criquielion patiently followed the move. At 75 meters Bauer reached down to shift with his right hand as Criquielion surged by on the sheltered “right side” along the barriers. For a moment Bauer lost control and swerved to the right. Criquielion had nowhere to go and collided with Bauer.

Criquielion crashed heavily. Bauer slowed following the contact and a surprised young Italian Maurizio Fondriest sprinted past for the victory. Bauer rolled across the line in second place but was disqualified following the incident. The Belgian crowd booed the action as an angry Criquielion walked his bike over the finish line in 11th place.

The feud started here but also put into motion one of the most unique cases in the history of cycling.

Bauer was duly disqualified from second place, but Criquielion wanted more. Claude Criquielion sued Canadian Bauer in the Belgian court system for assault, seeking $1.5m in damages for the loss of the World Championship victory. The court heard the case for more than three years before the judge ruled in Bauer's favor and dismissed the case.