Dutch cyclist Ellen van Dijk saw the funny side after receiving an X-rated gift set - including a sex toy - for winning a time trial.
The 35-year-old finished top of the standings during the opening time trial stage of the Bloeizone Fryslan. The time-trial world champion won the 14.4km first stage in 18 minutes and 34 seconds, beating Riejanne Markus by seven seconds and Marlen Reusser by 25 seconds.
However, the prize for her efforts was rather alarming.
After the triumph in her native Netherlands, Van Dijk was awarded a vibrator, lubricant and a blindfold by event sponsors EasyToys.
She soon took to Twitter to share a snap of her prizes - a pink shoebox filled with a number of sex toys.
Van Dijk appeared to see the funny side as she captioned the photo: “Prizes in women's cycling are improving.
“You can leave tips on how to use it in the comments.”
However, some of her followers were left bemused by her prize with one fan writing: “What other sport would give that as a prize? Disrespectful.”
It is not the first time that disrespectful prizes have been awarded in women’s cycling: Jolien D’Hoore was gifted a vacuum cleaner after winning the Ronde van Drenthe in 2015. Sponsors EasyToys have previously been in hot water when the Dutch FA blocked them from being the sponsor of FC Emmen to avoid ties to the sex industry on football shirts.
As a response, the company set up an X-rated inflatable outside the club's stadium.
The EasyToys logo also featured on the ice at an Olympic curling qualifier last year, leading broadcasters in Japan and the United States to pull their coverage.
Van Dijk went on to secure victory at the inaugural Bloeizone Fryslan Tour, finishing safely in the peloton on the third and final stage to beat Riejanne Markus to the title by seven seconds. Stage Three saw a battle of the Italian sprinters as Rachele Barbieri prevailed over Martina Fidanza and Elodie Le Ball completed the stage podium.
Van Dijk added a fifth overall title to her resumé on Saturday at the Dutch race, formerly known as the Healthy Ageing Tour. She won the opening time trial to hold the race lead for all three days.
