‘Never celebrate early’: Cyclist in the lead loses after doing victory fist pump

Lucy Kennedy is shocked as Marianne Vos overtakes her in the 2019 Giro Rosa. Image: Twitter/@lucyjkenn

Australian cyclist Lucy Kennedy realized she cannot celebrate an early lead when Dutch cyclist Marianne Vos overtook her spot for first place in Italy on Sunday, July 7.

Kennedy was pumping her fist in victory in the third stage of the 2019 Giro Rosa, an annual elite women’s cycling race, when Vos caught up in the last few meters of the track. As Vos left Kennedy behind, her jaw dropped in shock. 

A clip of Vos overtaking Kennedy with slow-motion replays was posted on the Global Cycling Network’s official Instagram account on Monday, July 8.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzpxjeBHWdA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Despite Kennedy’s defeat, she secured second place and her first podium finish in the competition. 

Kennedy opened up about her loss and what she learned from the Giro Rosa in her official Twitter account on Monday.

Lesson most definitely learnt: always sprint beyond the line and never celebrate early. It hurts to come so close to my first #WWT win at #girorosa today, but I can be very happy with my form and how @MitcheltonSCOTT executed our plan perfectly (until 3m to go 🤦🏼‍♀️) pic.twitter.com/xDyFZ7rM4G

— Lucy Kennedy (@lucyjkenn) July 7, 2019

“Lesson most definitely learnt: always sprint beyond the line and never celebrate early. It hurts to come so close to my first #WWT win at #girorosa today,” Kennedy said. “But I can be very happy with my form and how @MitcheltonSCOTT executed our plan perfectly (until 3m to go [facepalm emoji]).”

According to Vos, she also cannot believe the turn of events, as stated on her Instagram account on the same day.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BznzKt5itLf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“When you can’t really believe what just happened in the last couple of meters… Second stage win @girorosaiccrea in another tricky uphill finish,” Vos said. “Felt happy, but sorry for Lucy Kennedy at the same time passing her on the line.”

The Giro Rosa is an annual nine or ten-day event that takes place in Italy. It is one of the events included in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Women’s World Tour. NVG

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