Tour de France cyclist fined for 'damaging' the sport's image after kissing wife during race

French cyclist Julien Bernard said he was unfazed by the $330 fine, explaining "this kind of moment comes once in a lifetime".

A cyclist on a bike, with green grass and trees behind him.

Julien Bernard stopped to kiss his wife Margot when the Tour de France passed by his home in Burgundy, as a crowd of family and friends welcomed him. Source: AAP / David Pintens/Belga/Sipa USA

The friends and family of French cyclist Julien Bernard gathered on a hillside to greet him as the Tour de France passed by his home during Friday's stage in Burgundy, giving him a welcome that authorities found a little too warm.

Celebrations went too far for the International Cycling Union (UCI) race commissaries, responsible for imposing general rules during races.

With a huge crowd outside Nuits-Saint-Georges chanting Bernard's name, he stopped to hug and kiss his wife Margot, who had their child Charles in her arms at the time.
"I'd been waiting for this moment since the route was announced last October," he told local newspaper Le Bien Public.

"This kind of moment comes once in a lifetime, and never mind if they fined me."

The 200 Swiss Franc ($330) fine imposed by the UCI was "for behaviour damaging to the image of the sport".
"My wife organised for everyone to come and see me at that point of the race and I wanted to show my gratitude and thank her for that," the 32-year-old said.

The authorities were more bothered by the behaviour of his friends who whipped up the deep crowds threatening the security barrier and pushing forwards, with the locals cheering "Lalalala Julien Bernard".

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Bernard came 61st on the day, three minutes and 11 seconds down on winner Remco Evenepoel.

This year's Tour de France kicked off in Florence, Italy on 29 June. It concludes in Nice, France, on 21 July.

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2 min read
Published 7 July 2024 10:05am
Source: AFP



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