Esther Meisels is the third rider to leave the UCI women's team Health Mate Ladies Team this season, with the Israeli alleging abusive treatment and inappropriate behaviour from the team's general manager Patrick Van Gansen. Cyclingnews understands that Meisels, along with Sara Mustonen and Chloë Turblin’s father, have separately lodged two other formal complaints against Van Gansen with the UCI Ethics Commission, all within the last 12 months. "I have decided to leave Health Mate Ladies Team due to abusive treatment and inappropriate behaviour by the team manager," Meisels wrote in a post on Instagram. "The UCI already has several complaints stacked against him, and I hope they take action. Until then, I know I have to distance myself from it. My happiness, mental well-being, and self-worth are more important than any bike race will ever be." Van Gansen has refuted all claims of abusive and inappropriate behaviour towards the riders on Health Mate Ladies Team.ADVERTISEMENT Meisels, 23, is a professional cyclist from Israel and started competing internationally in 2017. After a successful season last year where she was seventh at the UCI White Spot Delta Road Race, she joined the Belgian-based Health Mate Team at the start of 2019. At the start of the year, Meisels moved to the team headquarters in Ekeren, Belgium, and into the team house that was owned by Van Gansen. Meisels told Cyclingnews that during her short time on the team, Van Gansen frequently showed a bad temper that made her feel frightened. "I think what most people can back me up on is his bad temper," Meisels said. "You can deal with it a few times, and maybe if you are only interacting with him at races, then one could go home and forget about it. He is very, very hurtful, and he gets real personal and makes you feel worthless. Van Gansen refutes allegations Mustonen and Turblin UCI Code of Ethics and Ethics Commission
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