Madrid - Vuelta e Espana chiefs will set-up "a committee of experts" to rule on whether or not it is sexist or even appropriate for podium girls to carry on kissing the winners of the classic cycling race.
Feminist groups in Spain want the tradition of attractive
young women delivering chaste kisses on the cheeks of the daily stage and
category winners halted, claiming it is demeaning.
"We are debating whether to kiss or not. We are not
going to ban it because we are in a western society but we envisage that we not
recommend the two kisses on the rider's cheeks," said a defiant Javier
Guillen, the head of Unipublic, the body that runs the three-week race.
The committee is expected to reveal its conclusions before
the start of the event on August 19.
Guillen said organisers could even introduce men to take part
in the podium's daily prize giving.
"If we need to hire a steward, we will do it, we will
alternate the awarding of prizes between hostesses and stewards," said
Guillen.