“He just shouldn’t be there” – Dutch pundits destroy Coquard after Philipsen crash

In the fallout from Jasper Philipsen’s crash and early exit from the Tour de France, debate continues over who, if anyone, is responsible. While many in the cycling world, including Adrie van der Poel, have described the incident as a racing accident, Roxane Knetemann sees it differently. In her view, one rider shoulders the blame: Bryan Coquard.

Speaking on the In Het Wiel podcast, Knetemann pointed to the layout of the final kilometres and the mindset of the peloton as factors in the chaos. “Those last kilometres... That was a kind of funnel,” she said. “It was also a very nervous peloton, because all the fast men wanted to get their revenge. You're in a kind of washing machine-like peloton, which was also very nervous. I thought it was great how Merlier came out of it again.”

Knetemann criticised the road design and questioned the placement of the finish. “What was tricky was that gentle bend. You actually want it to be straight for longer. That road is a bit like a serpentine. Plus that finish that you can't see, that's completely killing. They could have put that further on, for sure. Or earlier.”

But her strongest criticism was directed at Cofidis rider Bryan Coquard. Colleague Marijn Abbenhuijs didn’t hold back either: “What a crappy pilot. A really annoying little man. He never keeps his line and he quacks and steers himself through everything. I hope he is really punished severely for this.”

Knetemann drew an unflattering comparison to a beginner cyclist. “When I look at Coquard, I have the idea that I see a newcomer, or even a category six rider, riding a bike that is just a little too big with handlebars that are just a little too wide. Who is also swaying all the time. Who does not yet have the stability to just ride a straight line. It is really crying when you look at that guy.”

She acknowledged Coquard’s movement may have been instinctive, but still sees it as part of a larger issue. “What Coq does is of course a reflex because of what he does for that, because he wants to close that gap before Rex gets past. But of course he's been in Milan's wheel from left to right the whole time, it's fucking annoying.”

According to Knetemann, Coquard’s erratic style puts others at risk. “But everything he does before that, he can do something about. If he doesn't do that, he doesn't have to do that reflex. He is a rider who wants to position himself well at all costs. From that capacity he can sprint. That's why he has to do those antics that are just shit. He just shouldn't be there.”

Her conclusion was blunt. “I really thought it was awful. I think a lot is allowed, but I thought this was so awful. He thinks he belongs in between, but he doesn't at all. How are you going to explain that to a boy like that?”