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.”
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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?”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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- Are you MrMauMau 2.0? Nothing you are saying is really relevant. Vaguely connected, but irrelevant. The conversation is whether Schreiber impeded Brand or not.
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
- That is a very lazy way of putting it but so far on this website it seems like everyone is happy to look at everything lazily, even things that annoy them intensely. All they want to do is state their feeling and position but ask most to analyse a problem or come up with solutions or improvements and you’re stunned by silence. Nobody even really knows how this all happens. It’s very simple and quick to just say the UCI did it but I bet you they didn’t, I bet you not more than 2 people were involved, more likely just 1. The UCI may be ultimately responsible but it is not their decision, this is about hierarchy, power and delegation. The fact that protest is possible also means it isn’t over and that MORE people could get involved for a thorough review which could throw up anything. It is highly likely it was a sole commissar who decided and has that power in a first round. Therein might lie the problem the UCI has to consider, is it acceptable to give so much authority to one single person when it is quite possible for them to have a natural bias or be too easily susceptible to imposed bias. Who is to say an individual in this position isn’t susceptible to collaboration with outside players with interests in the results, nations, families, teams, betting companies, etc. On the one hand we have sports where these problems have been worked on way more to reduce such problems, on the other hand we have sports with far stricter and more draconian rules not even concerning safety or obstruction that nobody really questions like false starts or stepping out of lane or zones in athletics. If cycling hastowork on itself, it would be good if protagonists (all kinds) would start doing a little more than just moaning over outcomes.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- What a race! I didn't expect Vanthourenhout to collapse like that, and Wyseure did take the fight to Nys, but there was no doubt at the end. I also wonder what Aubin Sparfel would be capable of were he to race in the elites now. In the U23 ranks he is making good work of Giel Lejeune, who himself is among the better riders in the elites, and a top 10 contender in the big races (3rd at Kleebergcross, 8th at Berencross and 5th at Heerderstrand). In the French Cup, Sparfel is significantly better than Romain Debord (8th at Koppenbergcross and 10th at the Euros) and Rémi Lelandais (12th at Koppenbergcross and 19th at the Euros).Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
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