Match-fixing has already been studied in various sport disciplines. However, despite some well-known incidents in road cycling, match-fixing has barely been investigated in this unique sport discipline. Drawing on Ashforth and Anand’s theoretical model of normalization of corruption in organizations and on the perceptions of 15 active Belgian road cyclists, this study examines road cyclists’ attitudes towards collaboration and match-fixing in their sport. As the culture of agreements can be seen as part and parcel of road cycling itself, this study also examines whether agreements between cyclists are embedded, perpetuated, and thus normalized in road cycling. Using semi-structured interviews, this qualitative study indicates that road cyclists have a different understanding of match-fixing. By demonstrating that (a) cooperation between competitors happens routinely, (b) cyclists use self-serving explanations to justify these collaborations, and (c) newcomers are induced to engage in and accept collaborations with their competitors, we also indicate how normalized behaviors contribute to a grey zone that can be labelled as match-fixing. To enhance the future credibility of road cycling towards both fans and sponsors, additional clarifying and awareness-raising policy measures should be implemented.

比赛造假已经在各种体育学科中得到研究。然而，尽管在公路自行车中发生了一些众所周知的事件，但在这项独特的运动项目中几乎没有调查过假球。本研究利用 Ashforth 和 Anand 关于组织腐败正常化的理论模型以及 15 名活跃的比利时公路自行车手的看法，研究公路自行车手对其运动中的合作和假球的态度。由于协议文化可以被视为公路自行车本身的重要组成部分，因此本研究还研究了骑自行车者之间的协议是否在公路自行车中嵌入、延续并因此正常化。使用半结构化访谈，这项定性研究表明公路自行车手对比赛造假有不同的理解。通过证明 (a) 竞争对手之间的合作经常发生，(b) 骑自行车的人使用自私的解释来证明这些合作的合理性，以及 (c) 新来者被诱导参与并接受与他们的竞争对手的合作，我们还表明了规范化的行为如何做出贡献到可以标记为假球的灰色区域。为了提高公路自行车未来对球迷和赞助商的可信度，应实施额外的澄清和提高认识的政策措施。