Is there anything more awkward than an early race celebration? Former cyclocross World Champion and Jumbo-Visma road racer Wout Van Aert found out during Stage 3 of the Criterium du Dauphiné this week when he got nipped at the line by David Gaudu of France and Team Groupama-FDJ after taking his hands off the bars to celebrate his sprint finish and—he thought—his stage win.
Van Aert immediately realized his mistake, which only makes the photo series funnier, because his hands quickly went from being raised in the air in a victory salute to on his helmet in an "Oh no, what have I done?" motion, all captured beautifully by finish line photographers. The only thing funnier than Van Aert's body language is the look of utter delight on Gaudu's face as he realizes he got the win.
"It was a rookie mistake," Van Aert told Sporza in a post-race interview. "I have seen it before with colleagues. You sometimes laugh about it, but now I'm the loser myself. I have no words for it... I do think this is the first time it happens to me. Or at least in such a big race. Hopefully it won't happen a second time."
"It's a shame, because we worked very hard all day. Giving away a win like this is painful, because my team was super strong," he added. "I am really ashamed that I gave it away like this. It is a great disappointment that I have not been able to complete all the work. It was in my hands. If I throw my wheel instead of celebrating... When you see something like that with another rider, you wonder how that is possible. Now I understand, I think."
The good news for Wout fans: While he didn't take the stage win, he did move into the yellow leader's jersey thanks to his second place finish.
