'Is it cold in Argentina?' Belgian ex-cyclist sparks sexism row after making a crude comment about a young female journalist's top

• Sven Spoormakers posted the crude comment about reporter Belén Mendiguren
• The Belgian former junior cycling champion was criticised for 'objectifying' her
• Spoormarkers backed down and apologised after initially defending his remark

A Belgian sports journalist has sparked fury after making a crude comment about a young reporter's top on Twitter. 

Sven Spoormakers posted a picture of Belén Mendiguren interviewing cyclists during a race in Argentina, adding the caption: 'Is it cold in Argentina?'.

The comment prompted a backlash from fellow journalists who took aim at the Belgian for 'objectifying' the young reporter. 

Spoormakers, a former junior cycling champion, initially defended his comment but later backed down and admitted it was 'offensive to a lot of people'. 

Australian sports journalist Sophie Smith led the condemnation on Twitter, saying: 'Please tell me you did not just publicly objectify a young female reporter.

'Speaking from experience, let me say she does the exact same job as you but has to work and withstand twice as much still because of b******t like this.'

Spoormakers initially made matters worse by defending his remark, accusing Smith of 'drawing the feminist card'. 

'She knows exactly what she's wearing - or not wearing - and why. If I would interview a female athlete with my balls out, you'd be joking about it too,' he said.  

Smith hit back again, asking Spoormakers: 'So it's her fault because you can't stop looking at her boobs? 

'What's she meant to do, wear a potato sack so you don't get excited? 

'If I take a picture of you at work, post it and comment on how small your d*** looks in a pair of shorts would you be alright with that?'.

British journalist Ned Boulting backed up Smith's criticism, saying: 'Over and over and over again, my female colleagues have to defend themselves from institutional disrespect.'  

Spoormakers finally backed down yesterday, deleting his initial comment and offering an apology. 

'What was meant to be a funny remark, turned out to be offensive to a lot of people. That was bad judgement. Sorry,' he said. 

'And to [Mendiguren] in particular: we never met, but if you're ever in Belgium, you're welcome to discover I'm not the brontosaurus you think I am.'

Mendiguren did not reply directly, but later turned the 'brontosaurus' label on another Twitter user who had taken Spoormakers' side. 

She added: 'I wear what I want and feel great. Go write something about a more relevant and interesting topic.' 

Mendiguren, who has been covering Argentina's Vuelta de San Juan for ESPN, also thanked Smith for her public backing. 

Writing in English, she said: 'Thank you Sophie, it's gonna take time, but I really hope men will finally understand that this kind of comments are a complex gender issue. 

'We live with this kind of gender violence since we are born. I invite everyone to ask your closest female friends about it as a first step.'