Julien Bernard had a heartwarming homecoming on Friday during the stage seven time trial of the Tour de France, which took place in his home region of Burgundy. The French cyclist delighted in the support of his local crowd as he stopped his ride to share a tender moment with his wife and son.
However, this heartfelt gesture ended up costing Bernard a fine of 200 Swiss francs ($223) by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for what they considered “unseemly or inappropriate behavior during the race and damage to the image of sport.”
Despite the penalty, the crowd erupted in cheers as Bernard stopped to kiss his family. The scene was nothing short of cinematic, with Bernard pushing up a steep hill, one arm raised in the air, while his loved ones surrounded him, offering their support through pats on the back, waving signs, and playing instruments.
Amidst the crowd was his wife proudly carrying their son, creating a picture-perfect moment amidst the intensity of the race.
Amazing scenes for Julien Bernard with incredible fan support and stopping with his family during the time trial.#TDF2024 📺: Peacock pic.twitter.com/FjIhSOWtjx
— NBC Sports Cycling (@NBCSCycling) July 5, 2024
Reflecting on the incident on social media, Bernard took the fine in good humor, stating, “Sorry UCI for having damaged the image of sport. But I am willing to pay 200 francs every day to relive this moment.”
The stage eventually saw Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel emerge as the winner of the challenging 23.5 km (14.6 mile) course. Bernard finished with a time of 32:03, placing 61st in the stage, while his teammate Giulio Ciccone crossed the finish line in 31:19, ranking 41st.
Teammate Toms Skujins also responded to Bernard’s fine with lighthearted confusion, echoing the sentiment of amusement at the situation.
UCI doing UCI things
😂 pic.com/VFrIDWYL2I— Toms Skujiņš (@Tomashuuns) July 5, 2024
Speaking in an interview after the trial, Bernard expressed his joy, saying, “I wanted to enjoy every second with my friends and family. It was a dream moment for me.”
He added, “On a time trial, you have time to enjoy yourself. It’s these moments that keep me going in cycling.”
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(Photo: Dario Belingheri / Getty Images)
