Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck–Quick-Step) je na dirki za Barbantsko puščico ponovil napako, ki ga je stala zmage na nedavni preizkušnji Liege-Bastogne-Liege, kjer ga je zaradi prehitrega slavja na na cilji črtu ugnal Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma).
Francoz, ki je zaradi nevarne vožnje v ciljnem šprintu kasneje nazadoval na peto mesto, je po dirki dejal, da napake ne bo ponovil.
"Prezgodaj sem dvignil roke, kar je bila moja druga napaka. To se mi v je v karieri zgodilo prvič in zadnjič. Škoda, da se je to zgodilo ravno tukaj v Liegeu," se je s pepelom posul nosilec mavrične majice.
Podporo so mu izrekli tudi v ekipi. "Julian je zelo razočaran, zaveda se, da je naredil napako. Jaz nisem preveč razočaran, tudi jezen ne. On je svetovni prvak. Naredil je dve napaki. Se zgodi. Tudi on je samo človek," je dodal vodja moštva Deceuninck–Quick-Step Patrick Lefevere.
Toda Alaphilippe je obljubo hitro pozabil in se samo tri dni kasneje spet igral z ogrnjem. Tokrat je imel srečo, saj je drugouvrščenega Mathieua van der Poela ugnal za nekaj centimetrov in tako slavil prvo zmago po naslovu svetovnega prvaka.
"Si zmagal?" je Alaphilippe prestrašeno vprašal Nizozemca, ko mu je ta prišel čestitat za uspeh.
Zmago Alaphilippa je na koncu potrdil fotofiniš. "To ni bila zmaga iz maščevanja. Lepo je zmagati v tej majici," je povedal Francoz in dodal: "Malce napetosti ne škodi."
Navijači se njegovi potezi niso mogli načuditi. "Ali je Alaphilippe na drogah?" je zapisal nek uporabnik tviterja.
Zelo razočaran nad razpletom pa je bil Van der Poel. "Nocoj ne bom zatisnil očesa. Naredil sem majhno napako. Bil sem tako šokiran, da sem za trenutek nehal poganjati," je razkril.
Barely hanging on but definitely bragging too much on my good days. 😭😬😂 #Alaphilippe #mvdp #vanderpoel #cyclingmemes pic.twitter.com/9l7E8IoKWG
— sariashi (@sariashi) October 7, 2020
Not for the second time in 4 days. #DP20
— ammattipyöräily (@ammattipyoraily) October 7, 2020
1. Alaphilippe, 2, M.van der Poel pic.twitter.com/YVDpFexDwX
Alaphilippe again 🤦🏻
— Embalaje Final (@embalaje_final) October 7, 2020
I love Alaphilippe, but that was hilarious. He's fully committed to his brand, I'll give him that! The look on his face on the line... "oh oh, merde, not again."
— luca (@gormacha) October 7, 2020
What the hell, not again.. is Alaphilippe on drugs?! 🙃🤣 https://t.co/fqiXUvWxgx
— MirNavi 🇸🇰🇨🇭 (@Mirec85) October 7, 2020
Uh hello mr. alaphilippe. please keep you hands on the bars and throw that bike. Hands can go up after the line 🤦🏼♀️ You almost got yourself AGAIN!
— Julie (@julie_kuliecza) October 7, 2020
Did he salute too early again?
— Australian Cycling Insider (@AusCycInsider) October 7, 2020
Not quite as it turns out, but with just 10cm in it you would have thought Alaphilippe might have waited until after the line to post up! pic.twitter.com/kWLrqHhA9y
Alaphilippe is unbelievable! How could he do the same premature celebration again? 🤨
— YOUARESHE (@TheMachine7253) October 7, 2020
'Has Alaphilippe done it again?'
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) October 7, 2020
What a finish at #BP20 as @Alafpolak celebrates prematurely once again....
What the hell, not again.. is Alaphilippe on drugs?! 🙃🤣 https://t.co/fqiXUvWxgx
— MirNavi 🇸🇰🇨🇭 (@Mirec85) October 7, 2020
Alaphilippe almost, almost made the same mistake again https://t.co/h7tRwP2htb
— José Been (@TourDeJose) October 7, 2020