Julien Alaphilippe vowed "never again to deviate from the sprint line or celebrate too early" for the two mistakes that ruined his rainbow jersey debut in Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

The new world champion apologized to Marc Hirschke (Team Sunweb) for disrupting the line in the five-man sprint competition, primarily by moving to the left.

There was some embarrassment, but also vague consolation, about the early congratulations to Jumbo Visma's Primoš Roglic, who was ahead of him.

"It's obviously frustrating not to win," Alaphilippe said. 'I cooled down, recovered a bit, looked at the footage, and really didn't realize I had made such a terrible deviation. That was my first mistake."

"My second mistake was raising my arms a little too early. I've never done anything like this before in my career and I think it will be my last, I prefer being relegated in second place to winning a championship.

"I want to apologize for what happened to Hirschi. I am happy to wear the jersey in this race and I did my best, but most of all I am sorry and disappointed," the world champion said.

Alaphilippe sat up and raised his hands with less than 25 meters to go in Liege. After the results were confirmed, he was called onto the race official's video track and told that he would be demoted to fifth place for disrupting Tadei Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) and Hirschi in a dangerous sprint.

Alaphilippe was asked if he thought the judges' decision was fair, to which he replied, "Absolutely. 'Once again, I apologize for my unwillingness to deviate. I have no excuse. It is not my way at all, and I am sincerely sorry. I will not do it again."

Alaphilippe was caught in a crash with 80km to go, but he rejoined the peloton and led teammate Dries Devenance into the final climb of the Roche aux Faucons, creating a decisive selection with his trademark attack. He, Hirschi, Roglic, and Pogachar arrived at the finish together, joined by latecomer Matej Mohoric (Bahrain McLaren) for the finish sprint.

"It was a good day and a tough race with a lot of wind. I have no regrets because even if I had won I would have been relegated. It felt special to race in the La Doyenne jersey," said Alaphilippe.

"I think I did well in the finale. I felt the pressure of the jersey and all the riders worked against me, but that is normal. I made the selection in Roche-aux-Focons, but Hirschi's attack hurt me.

"In the sprint it was perfect until Mohoric came back. I was disappointed in La Doyenne. Like I said, it was first and last. In any case, we had a great winner in Primoš Roglic."

Alaphilippe insisted that he had no regrets, but he would be aware that he missed a great opportunity to win a second monument. His thoughts will now turn to the cobbled classics and his first Tour de Flanders.

"I have to move on quickly. I have had disappointments in my career and there will be more."