It all started with a Facebook video. Its author, the “Lion of Flanders”, Johan Museeuw, triple winner of Paris-Roubaix in 1996, 2000 and 2002. Through a two-minute post, the Belgian created discomfort with his friend Andreï Tchmil, also winner of “The Queen of Classics” in 1994. Museeuw explained in this video that he received a call from Tchmil, whom he considers his friend. This one, would have announced to him, his departure to the combat on the Ukrainian front, while his son and his wife remain in Romania. Unwittingly, Museeuw thus launched a false rumour. But Andreï Tchmil, denied it today to the Parisian. “This rumor has no basis and I don’t know where it came from. »
Now Moldovan, Tchmil knows Russia and Ukraine perfectly. Each of these two countries have indeed welcomed the ex-cyclist. Aged 59, the former winner of the Tour of Flanders had Russian nationality until 1991, then Ukrainian between 1994 and 1998. Even if he will not fight, contrary to what we have heard , the Moldovan is affected by the situation. And feels doubly concerned “I have friends in Russia but also in Ukraine. And everyone I’ve been able to call is very sad about what’s going on. I would like a dialogue to take place. »
The former president of the Moldavian Cycling Federation, however, does not wish to be involved in this conflict. Residing in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, he now leads a relatively peaceful life “I am a man of peace who lives in a neutral country, why do you want me to decide to take up arms? »
Despite this « fake news » propagated by Johan Museeuw, against whom he raced between 1989 and 2002, he does not hold it against the man he considers his friend “I have been in contact with Johan for a long time, who was my sporting rival. » The two men called each other recently. According to Andreï Tchmil, the former Belgian champion mistranslated his remarks: “I called him and I told him we both went to war when we were runners. But the real war is the one going on in Ukraine. » An error of understanding at the base of a misunderstanding of a few days. The war, Andrei Tchmil will therefore lead it by voice and not by arms.
