Mountain biker Ares Masip has denounced the presence of sexual assault at the World Cup

Through a statement on his personal Instagram profile, the runner Ares Masipthree-time runner-up Spanish Enduro Champion, has publicly stated that he was the victim of sexual assault and attempted rape by another rider.

The events took place in Leogang World Cup In the 2023 season, the runner explained, the aggressor entered his van after asking him if he could sleep and immediately began to force him without his consent: “I refused from the first moment and he continued to rub my penis so that I asked the her. I didn’t want to scream, I pushed her away, but she covered my mouth, she grabbed my arms and told me she was going to rape me,” she explained.

After what happened, Masip decided to keep quiet; But a year later, he learned that the aggressor had tried to do the same to another runner, causing the biker who lives in Andorra to break his silence and publicly reveal the attack he suffered in court.

Ares had the cooperation of a specialist in male violence and brought the case before the International Cycling Unionwith the goal, at least, of never competing with their aggressor again. “I reduced the number of races for several reasons, but one of them was because it didn’t go well with him.”

However, he is not optimistic about the judicial process: “at the judicial level I don’t know what will happen, it is not an easy process,” he complained. However, Ares Masip is confident that his public complaint will help other victims make the same decision and put an end to this type of crime in the Mountain Bike World Cup paddock. “I broke the silence because I believe it is possible to build a safer and more just society, enough of so much impunity,” he said.