Primoz Roglic lays the foundation stone

Our special correspondent on the Tour

Detached, the citadel of Sisteron observed the strange merry-go-round of the Tour de France taking care to keep the spectators behind the barriers, before accompanying this colorful parade which postponed the return to school in the city by two days towards an expected epilogue. , tense.

The first arrival at the top represents on the Tour de France an opportunity to cross swords, to mark the spirits, more than to widen the gaps.

Bernard Hinault, like Christopher Froome afterwards, used to not miss the opportunity to display and hammer home the extent of his ambition.

Primoz Roglic, head of Dutch team Jumbo-Visma, had the appointment in mind.

His formation discreetly controlled the day, before stifling the attempts of the daring (the French Pierre Rolland 4.5 km from the finish and Guillaume Martin 500 meters from the line) in the final climb, to propel his leader, the former ski jumper to stage victory, his third on the Tour.

From Nice, his team takes center stage.

It imposed the neutralization of the 1st stage on the roads around Nice transformed into an ice rink by the summer ice.

She showed her muscles, displayed her strength, her desire to shoulder the responsibilities whenever the script required, taking center stage, leaving no doubt about her ambition.

"There is still quite a bit of road ahead and you should always expect Ineos to lift its head ..."

Primoz Roglic

The bouquet of the winner quickly put away, Primoz Roglic was not upset by his success, but totally immersed in the individual and collective project.

Orcières-Merlette was only the first floor of a patient construction: “The whole team has been wonderful, we must continue according to the plan set to go as far as possible.

Every day, I'm getting better and better, I'm not yet as strong as at the Dauphiné (leader, he was forced to retire after a fall) but since the 2nd stage, I have the confirmation that I can again to roll.

It's a pleasure to be able to do this and a good sign for the next few weeks.

"And to admit:" I wanted to take the yellow jersey, it was a double concern.

But the goal is to be in yellow in Paris.

We will have to stay focused at each step.

As a team, we will have to work.

We will see how it goes.

The statistics plead in favor of Ineos (seven titles in the last eight editions), we have recruited high-level elements, it is up to us to prove that we will be the best team.

It's up to us to keep up the pressure.

There is still a lot of road ahead and you always have to expect that Ineos will lift its head… ”

>> READ ALSO: Primoz Roglic: “To be in yellow in Paris”

Julian Alaphilippe, 5th on the stage and still well attached to his yellow jersey (despite 10 seconds lost on Roglic), confirms the impression of power, of confidence shown by the Jumbo-Visma team: “It is a very strong for a little while.

It's a big collective, their goal is to win the Tour.

They still have work ahead of them… ”On the road, Primoz Roglic does not forget the threat posed by the French leader:“ We know what he is capable of, what a champion he is.

He was Yellow Jersey for almost three weeks last year, he came close to winning the Tour.

Like Thibaut (Pinot), we will be watching him. ”

“We won't be able to hold the cabin like that for long.

The plan does not change, I will take it day by day "

Julian Alaphilippe

Julian Alaphilippe, all in his "pride to live a new day in yellow", tempers the wait and assures: "We will not be able to keep the cabin like that for long.

The plan does not change, I will take it day by day.

"Bernard Thévenet, winner of the 1975 and 1977 Tours, returned with emotion to Orcières-Merlette, setting of the unforgettable success of Luis Ocana in 1971 (" I was there, I was a privileged witness ") slips on the subject of Yellow jersey: “He is capable of climbing with the best, last year he had passed the Pyrenees well.

Last year everyone thought he was going to lose his jersey and he was still there, as Bernal summed it up.

Everything will depend on his opponents.

Alaphilippe, it is a great happiness for the Tour de France and the French.

It is not a computer, its sensors, it is the heart.

It's not the pass that's difficult, it's the opponent… ”The 5th stage, Gap-Privas (183 km) should give him a day of respite.

Before a new test, Thursday, in the direction of Mont Aigoual.

Under the threat of the devouring ambition of Primoz Roglic…

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• General classification of the Tour de France 2020