Julian Alaphilippe’s premature celebration backfires at Liege-Bastogne-Liege

French cyclist Julian Alaphilippe was immensely apologetic after his all-time sporting blunder, which will be replayed for several years.

Julian Alaphilippe's premature celebration backfires.

Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic pipped an already celebrating Julian Alaphilippe to the line at cycling’s top Belgian one-day classic Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday.

The epic 257km run through the Ardennes culminated with four of the hottest racers in the world contesting the finish, with Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar and Swiss Marc Hirschi also in the mix.

Alaphilippe moved left from a lead position to knock Hirschi and Pogacar out of contention but as the Frenchman raised his arms, Roglic continued racing and beat the Frenchman over the line.

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The world champion was later relegated to fifth by race officials, and was as embarrassed as he was apologetic.

“That is the first and last time you’ll ever see me celebrate too soon,” Alaphilippe said, who rides for Belgian team Deceuninck-Quick Step.

“I’m really sorry for Hirschi, I have seen the images and I swerve. That won’t happen again either.”

An hour later and I still can't believe how badly Alaphilippe botched that finish. He swerved, ruining two rivals' sprints. Then he posted up early, losing fight to the line. All at his first race in rainbow jersey, at the Monument he so dearly wants to win. Just brutal. #LBL2020 https://t.co/wDCrHaNAp4

— Neal Rogers (@nealrogers) October 4, 2020

Hirschi was in forgiving mood: “He moved, hit my wheel, that can happen.”

That left three Slovenians in the top four with Pogacar second and Matej Mohoric fourth behind Hirschi.

The win marks a redemption for the 30-year-old Roglic, who led the Tour de France for two weeks before a final-day meltdown. Instead of going under, the former ski-jumper can now close his season with a prestige win.

“It’s unbelievable. It was so close. It goes to show you can never stop believing and never stop pushing until the last centimetre,” Roglic said.

“It was the first time I did the oldest race in the calendar. It was on my wish list to win a Monument. I’m super happy I managed to win.”

Julian Alaphilippe was pipped at the post.

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Former soldier Alaphilippe took the defeat on the chin and also praised the winner.

“We have a great winner in Primoz Roglic … I made a mistake and I have to take full responsibility for it,” said the Frenchman who might have been more embarrassed without the decision to strip him of second place.

“The only thing to do is get on with the next race now.

Belgium’s Gren van Avermaet is likely to miss the rest of the season after falling at around 100km from the finish — the 2017 Paris-Roubaix winner suffered various injuries, including breaking three ribs.

— AFP