It’s a rare scene at this level. After the arrival of the Grand Prix de l’Escaut, an old Flandrian classic nicknamed today “Unofficial World Championship for sprinters” because the latter win it almost every time, we just thought we were celebrating the victory of the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (Wanty). But, and despite himself, it was another sprinter who stood out: Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix).
The latter, winner of the third stage of the Tour de France 2021 in Pontivy, clearly had his head elsewhere when he crossed the finish line. Instead of continuing his effort after the race to join his team bus still at the end of the line, Merlier turned around and started in the opposite direction. He hadn’t realized that the race wasn’t over for everyone…
After a few tens of meters, he saw in front of him a dozen retarded sprinting for a place of honor. And in the last kilometer, barriers are installed on both sides of the road to block spectators.
For a few moments, we thought we were witnessing the most improbable collision in modern cycling. But Merlier then realized his blunder and had just enough time to get off the bike and hoist himself up, a bit ridiculously, on the other side of the barriers. And it is perched between two barriers that he observed the sprint of those he almost hit by his recklessness.
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