"When you see Pogacar driving as fast as Armstrong ...": Tour fans are skeptical

On the most beautiful avenue in the world, crushed by the sun and on which summer has finally settled, the Slovenian flags flutter in the wind. The Champs-Élysées have been invaded by Tadej Pogacar's compatriots who welcome him like a rock star. "He is our hero," insist Alen and Samo, who came from Ljubljana on purpose. We will vote for him if he runs for the Presidency of the Republic. We want to see it, touch it, even if we know that it will not be possible because of the Covid. He is the Slovenian of the year. It was already in 2020. It will still be in 2022 and even later. You have not finished hearing from him and each time, we will be there. "

Slovenia, this tiny country in the Balkans, has indeed left to rule the Tour for a while. And inevitably, that questions… On the Fields, there are smiles but a little grimaces too. Especially if you are French. “We ask ourselves questions, asks Laurent, Groupama-FDJ jersey on his back, coming from Le Mans, in Sarthe, with his family. How can such a small nation have so many champions, win the Tour and win five stages

having lost Roglic along the way and who was the real favorite at the start? We French are happy with the stage and Alaphilippe's yellow jersey in Brittany. But it seems so far away. I just hope that we leave with the same chances as the others. "

"He's not from here so it's easy to run into him"

A stone's throw away, vintage world champion's jersey and gold and purple Alpecin jersey in tribute to Raymond Poulidor, the thirty-something Bastian, Pierre and Antonin are on the same wavelength.

"How not to wonder?

insists Bastian.

When I see Pogacar going up to Le Grand-Bornand on the big plateau as Pantani did and driving as fast as Armstrong in the mountains, there is reason to wonder.

But I don't have the answers.

So until proven otherwise, we can only admire the feat and salute the champion.

By remaining cautious.

"

Bastian, Pierre and Antonin have doubts about Pogacar's performance.

LP / Eric Michel

A stone's throw away, René, an old man who hasn't missed anything from the Tour for at least sixty years, agrees on this point: “We had cheats in the bike. We know them, they did a lot of damage to the Tour and we must never stop talking bad about them. But little Pogacar, what do we have against him? Suspicions but if not? Nothing. So let's leave him alone with our chatter. If one day he gets caught at a control, we'll run into him and he will have deserved it. But in the meantime, let's admire… ”

"Yes, let's take advantage," Juliette, in her thirties, continues in front of the Champs roundabout. We are witnessing the birth of a huge champion, a boy who will surely mark the history of sport and not just cycling. If he was French, would we be hurting ourselves, doubting? No. If Pogacar were French, he would already have the Legion of Honor. He would be the equal in popularity of a Mbappé. But he's not from here so it's easy to run into him. But I trust him because he has a good face. "