Adam Toupalik thought he’d won the biggest race of his career on Sunday in the U23 race at the Cyclocross World Championships, but he will go down in the 2016 history books for all the wrong reasons.
The Czech rider was leading the race as he approached the finish line for the penultimate time and with the bell ringing in his ears to signify the last lap, the excitement went to his head.
>>> Motor found in Belgian cyclo-cross bike ‘a disgrace’ says national cycling coach
Looking over his shoulder at those riders chasing him, who were riding hard, but not exactly sprinting to catch him, he pumped his fists and raised his arms to celebrate victory.
Unfortunately for Toupalik, 19, he was a lap too early. He must have realised this only when the other riders powered past him as he slowed down to savour victory.
>>> British riders react with anger to motorised cyclo-cross bike scandal
All credit to the rider, he regained his focus to fight around the final lap once he’d realised his mistake, but his sprint couldn’t match that of Belgian Eli Iserbyt.
