Lorena Wiebes is currently the fastest sprinter in women’s cycling. Her victory in the prestigious Amstel Gold Race on Sunday was not surprising.

However, the surprising part was that Wiebes did not end up winning the race despite her premature celebration before crossing the finish line. Marianne Vos of Visma-Lease a Bike managed to catch up to Wiebes in the final meters and beat her to the line.

Vos’s victory in the Amstel Gold Race was her second after 2021, while Wiebes lost in a heartbreaking manner and will have to wait for another chance to add this classic race to her list of achievements.

“I made a really stupid mistake,” Wiebes admitted after the race.

Misjudging victory celebrations is not uncommon in cycling, with well-known cyclists like Julian Alaphilippe and Wout Van Aert making similar errors in the past. Wiebes acknowledged her error and sees it as a valuable learning experience.

“It happens to every cyclist at some point,” Wiebes reflected. “It’s a good learning point. Normally I always sprint on. I hope not to do it again next time.”