Alaphilippe-Pinot, the return of the artificers

Special envoy to Nice

Flashback. On July 26, 2019, the 19th stage of the Tour de France will lead the peloton to Tignes. A sudden thunderstorm, a mudslide, the road cut and the scenario derails. The race, stopped at the top of the Iseran, enters the legend of the race for its twists and turns, its tears, its unpublished epilogue. At 48 hours of the parade on the Champs-Élysées, Colombia celebrated the advent of Egan Bernal, French supporters, with wet eyes, had recorded the abandonment of Thibaut Pinot (victim of muscle pain in the left thigh) and the end of Julian Alaphilippe's epic after spending fourteen days dancing at the top of the general classification. Bernard Hinault remains the last French winner of the Grande Boucle, in 1985.

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In Nice, fourteen months later, Julian Alaphilippe confirmed what the composition of his Deceuninck-Quick Step team foreshadowed: he will take on his favorite role, stage hunter after a victory since ... the time trial de Pau, July 19, 2019 (in August, he finished 2nd in Milan-San Remo and 3rd in the champion at France): “The objective is very clear, I did not come here for the general classification. It's a natural decision. Even if last year I was not far at the end (5th at 4'5 '' from Egan Bernal), that was not my goal. So it's not frustrating, I'm here to try to win a stage, with the team we're not here to win the Tour. On paper, there are quite a few steps for my convenience, there is really plenty to do. "

" Imagine climbing the passes with maximum effort and seeing the deserted roads, that will be special "

The arrival of the 2nd stage (with the climbs of the Col de la Colmiane, the Col de Turini and the Col d'Eze) could, as of Sunday, inspire him: "I will see how I feel, that will determine the continuation of my Tour. I'm not going to hide it, if I have good feelings, if I feel good, it's a good opportunity to go for the victory and the yellow jersey. Clearly, it's a mountain stage with 4000 meters of elevation gain: it's not mid-mountain but a real difficult day. As usual in the first stages of the Tour, there will be a lot of tension, stress, all the leaders will want to stay ahead so as not to get trapped. Getting off to a good start is important. To give the momentum.

As in 2019, but in a completely different environment: “I have unforgettable memories of this crowd behind me last year. Imagine climbing the passes with maximum effort and seeing the deserted roads, it will be special. You have to imagine a football match with an empty stadium, it's the same thing. It's a shame, the public is part of cycling. But it is important to follow the instructions. We are isolated, in a single room. There are a lot of rules to follow, that's what makes the Tour so special this year, all these rules around us. "

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Thibaut Pinot confirms: “The most annoying thing is to have the mask almost all the time but when you are on the bike, you forget everything. "The leader of the Groupama-FDJ team" relaxed but focused, knows what he has to do ", according to Rudy Molard. His teammate is on the list of favorites (with the number 51 which accompanied the successes of Merckx in 1969, Ocana in 1973, Thévenet in 1975 and Hinault in 1978…) advances: “Since 2014 (3rd in the final ranking in Paris), I am told repeatedly that it is the year or never for the French. It became a habit. If it is not this year, I will be told the same thing again next year… The most negative pressure is the one I put on myself. At 30, I manage to let go of the pressure, I am quite calm. "

" The yellow jersey? It is a gift to be able to wear it. It would be a miss if I couldn't do it… ” 

This late Tour turning its back on the heat of July, launching its only time trial (36.2 km between Lure and the Planche des Belles Filles, the day before the parade on the Champs-Élysées) on its land, in the Vosges , looks like an ideal field of expression for a rise in power “during the third week, there is the means to be offensive. "
With a view to playing eye to eye with the best, he presents:" There are two big armadas, Ineos and Jumbo-Visma who will have the responsibilities of the race. In the mountains and on the flat, there is nothing to be afraid of. I'm afraid the start of the Tour will be padlocked, but over three weeks, a lot can happen… ”

Stage winner at the top of Tourmalet, dominating in the Pyrenees, Thibaut Pinot struck the spirits last year, before being brutally thrown off by an injury to the left thigh. Touched but quickly carried by a certainty, the Tour can smile on him. So he does not set any limit: “The yellow jersey? It is a gift to be able to wear it. I hope to wear it before the end of my career. It would be a miss if I couldn't do it… ” 

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