July 6, 2024
FRANCE (AFP) — Friends and family gathered on a hillside to greet Julien Bernard as he passed his home during a stage in Burgundy on Friday – but authorities thought the welcome was a little too warm for Bernard.
For race officials from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), responsible for imposing general rules during the race, the celebrations went too far.
Usually these rules relate to public defecation and dangerous deviance, but Friday’s violation was of a more festive nature.
As a large crowd gathered outside Nuits-Saint-Georges chanted the local boy’s name, he stopped to hug and kiss his wife, Margot, who was holding their son Charles at the time.
“I have been waiting for this moment since the route was announced last October,” he told local newspaper Le Bien Publican.
“This kind of moment only comes once in a lifetime. I don’t care if I get fined.”
The UCI fine of 200 Swiss francs (205 euros/223 dollars) was for “conduct that tarnishes the image of the sport.”
“At that point in the race, my wife had arranged for everyone to come and watch me, so I wanted to say thank you,” the 32-year-old explained.
Authorities were more perplexed by the actions of his friends, who incited a large crowd that threatened security barriers and pressed forward as locals shouted “La la la la, Julien Bernard.”
By the way, he finished 3 minutes 11 seconds behind the winner, Remco Evenepoel, and in 61st place on the day.
{“jamaica-observer”:”Jamaica Observer”}
