Special envoy to Lavaur
At the foot of the Pyrenees, on the barometer of French ambitions Thibaut Pinot (9th in the general classification) patiently ticks the days that take him away from the nightmare of Nice, the fall of the 1st stage, the pain on board and the care provided since, happy to bring together energy and sensations.
Julian Alaphilippe, frustrated at having let slip the yellow jersey, wants to give substance to new shots of brilliance.
Romain Bardet (7th overall) advances with the discretion that characterizes him but each passing day indicates, by his pace and tone, that his physical and psychological form, very different from last year, must allow him to shine, on one land or another.
Warren Barguil, in the role chosen as Nairo Quintana's teammate, lost the time which should allow him to run after a stage victory.
Out of the shadow of this quartet of blue-white-red headliners, Guillaume Martin (27), leader of the Cofidis team, shines.
In the climb of Orcières-Merlette (4th stage), the Normand was one of the few to thwart the hellish train imposed by the Jumbo-Visma team.
Taken over by Primoz Roglic, untouchable, he signed a promising 3rd place: “We had to try as much as my feelings were very good.
After confinement, I passed a real milestone, I demonstrated it to the Dauphiné (3rd in the final general classification) and I feel it again here.
Being there on the first mountain stage is necessarily very encouraging for the future ", underlined the one who, at the start of Nice, announced:" the priority objective of the team is to achieve a victory of stage (expected by the northern team on the Grande Boucle since 2008), I do not refrain from taking risks for it.
Afterwards, the good feelings of the last few weeks can give ambitions (in the general classification) for the future… ”
“
He's coming of age.
You don't really know your limits
”
Cédric Vasseur, manager of the Cofidis team
Cédric Vasseur, the manager of the Cofidis team, adds: “he is reaching maturity.
We don't really know his limits, he's in a new role, with a team around him.
From the start, he has made zero mistakes.
We must let the race settle down and not fall into euphoria.
For us it is a discovery, not a confirmation like Roglic or Bernal, but I think it may surprise.
In the Pyrenees (Saturday and Sunday), the objective will be not to waste time on the best.
The two stages, especially the first towards Loudenvielle, can establish a first hierarchy.
It will be very important not to get trapped. ”
Holder of a master's degree in philosophy
Guillaume Martin, a runner and a character to discover.
"It is atypical", summarizes Cédric Vasseur.
Eclectic, the holder of a master's degree in philosophy, author of a book "Socrates by bike: Le Tour de France des philosophes" (Éditions Grasset), also wrote a play performed in Avignon.
Last year, he confided to us: “From the outside, people often wonder, ask me if I am not perceived as a UFO in the world of cycling.
Actually no.
In cycling, there are a lot of different profiles and social origins, so there is no judgment.
There is respect.
No one looks at me any differently because I am studying philosophy.
"
He has since been satisfied that we focus on his performances, more than on his Violin d'Ingres: “The situation suits me very well.
It's my 4th Tour de France (23rd in 2017, 21st in 2018, 12th in 2019), we talk less and less about philosophy and more and more about cycling.
Above all, I'm a very happy runner about this situation.
I'm happy that as a runner I'm being judged on my performance and not on the double hats, which I was asking for. "
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Cédric Vasseur recalled, not long ago, that his “secret hope of seeing a rider reveal himself in the jersey of Cofidis.
I would like to see the equivalent of a Pinot, a Bardet, an Alaphilippe or a Barguil.
Guillaume will allow the team to surpass themselves.
There is no leader without a team.
There is no team without a successful leader.
To reach the stars, you have to aim for the moon.
He must have high ambitions.
Physically, we'll see if he can compete.
"And to confide:" I dream of a Pinot, Bardet, Martin, Barguil association in the mountains.
We wear different team jerseys but if the race situation requires it, there will be a national alliance… ”
Read also
The complete route of the Tour de France 2020
General classification of the Tour de France 2020
