Without Julian Alaphilippe and his feat in Nice, and while waiting for the stopwatch at the Planche des Belles Filles this Saturday and then the sprint on the Champs-Elysées on Sunday, the French stage victories counter would be blank this year.
As a symbol, it is the rider of Deceuninck Quick-Step who is entitled to the first chapter of the new book by Nicolas Geay, the reporter for France Télévisions: "Legendary victories, 25 French victories which marked the history of the Tour" (Ed.Amphora, 29.95 euros).
This 315-page book includes in particular long interviews with the runners themselves, or their close entourage, and it allows us to return to the heart of the successes of Thibaut Pinot, Romain Bardet, Warren Barguil, Thomas Voeckler, Pierre Rolland and Laurent Fignon. .
We learn why Alaphilippe had asked his team to make a detour during reconnaissance to locate the last 100 kilometers of the stage where he was going to win in Epernay (Marne) and take the yellow jersey for the first time in his career.
Romain Bardet evokes his success in Saint-Gervais (Haute-Savoie) in 2016 and explains that he "dreams of a cycle where the race can explode from the first pass, without the team members and that it is from men to men" .
"I had a moment of absence"
Warren Barguil talks about his funny feeling at the top of the Izoard in 2017: “I had a moment's absence, it made me funny, because I am not a Colombian.
Me, I'm not used to these altitudes… ”
There is revenge in the words of Richard Virenque when he mentions his victory in Morzine (Haute-Savoie) in 2000: “I had to be faultless, with all the unexpected checks I was subjected to because they wanted to bring me down.
I was controlled all the time.
But I come back and I win anyway.
"
The story of Sandy Casar's success in Angoulême (Charente) is filled with strong confessions after his violent fall due to a dog during a stage.
“Legendary victories” it looks like this 🙏 https://t.co/O8UcMDEYE0
- Nicolas Geay (@Nicogeay) September 7, 2020
Finally, Thibaut Pinot, discusses at length his victory at the top of the Tourmalet last year.
The Groupama-FDJ rider, who made his manager Marc Madiot vibrate that day, brings back this emotional moment: “At 400 m, I really accelerate and, in my head, it's a count: 400, 300, 200, 100 m.
Then I know there is 100m of effort left, and victory is reaching out to me.
"