Julien Bernard had a dream homecoming on Friday: The French cyclist was cheered on by the local crowd and shared a precious embrace with his wife and son during the Tour de France's seventh stage time trial in his native Burgundy.
Bernard was fined 200 Swiss francs ($223) by the International Cycling Union (UCI) for “inappropriate or improper behaviour during the race and damage to the image of the sport” after stopping to kiss a family.
The kiss, which was met with rapturous applause from hundreds of hometown fans, was like a scene from a movie, with Bernard holding one arm up a steep hill as friends and family swarmed the course, clapping him on the back, waving signs and playing instruments.
In the middle of the group was his smiling wife, holding their son.
It was an incredible sight for Julien Bernard, who was cheered on by incredible fans and stopped with his family during the time trial.#TDF2024 📺: Peacock pic.twitter.com/FjIhSOWtjx
— NBC Sports Cycling (@NBCSCycling) July 5, 2024
On social media, Bernard took the fine as a joke.
“I'm sorry to the UCI for tarnishing the image of the sport,” Bernard wrote to X. “But I would pay CHF200 a day to relive this moment.”
Ultimately, Belgian Remco Evenepoel won the hilly 23.5-kilometer (14.6-mile) stage.
Bernard's time of 32:03 was the 61st fastest time of the stage. His Lidl-Trek teammate Giulio Ciccone finished 41st on the stage in 31:19.
Another Riddle-Trek teammate, Toms Sczyns, reacted to Bernard's fine with a similar look of sarcastic bewilderment.
The UCI carries out UCI activities
😂 pic.twitter.com/VFrIDWYL2I— Tomás Sukjins (@Tomashuuns) July 5, 2024
“I was looking forward to seeing my wife and friends because I knew they had done something while they were climbing,” Bernard said in an interview after the trial, adding, “I wanted to enjoy the moment with all my friends and family. It was a surreal moment for me.”
“In a time trial, there's time to have fun. It's these moments that keep me going and keeping me going.”
Must Read
(Photo by Dario Bellinghelli/Getty Images)
