One of the most memorable moments of this year’s Giro d’Italia wasn’t the dramatic final day time trial or the explosive week in the Dolomites, but something far more romantic.

On stage 10’s time trial, Victor Campenaerts sacrificed a great time to ask Carlien Cavens on a date, writing on his chest “Carlien daten?” which he showed on the start ramp and when he crossed the line.

It all seemed to be going so well for the 25-year-old LottoNL-Jumbo rider with Carlien agreeing to the date.

But since returning to the Giro, it appears that Carlien, who is five years Campenaerts senior, just wants to be friends.

“We’ll just stay friends,” Campenaerts, who quit the Giro after stage 16, has revealed to Het Nieuwsblad.

“Nothing will be done. I have said everything about it. Will she continue to support me? Of course. Friends do that for each other.”

Despite the end result not being what Campenaerts had hoped for, he does the see positive side of his stunt: publicity.

“It has had quite a bit of media attentions over the past few days,” he added, before joking: “I think I was in the newspaper more than if I had won that time trial.”

The rejection was the second blow for Campenaerts, for his date request also earned him a 100 Swiss francs fine. 

There’s always Tinder, Victor. Get swiping.