A year ago almost to the day, Alexis Vuillermoz, 34, fell seriously during the Tour de Suisse and fractured his hip and pelvis.
When he wakes up in the operating room, the little puncher from the TotalEnergies team still remembers the doctor's first words.
"He didn't say
hello
or
how are you?"
, he says but: Are
you aware that your cycling career is over?
At one point, I even feared for my life.
»
A year later, therefore, Alexis Vuillermoz is the new leader of the Critérium du Dauphiné after winning the 2nd stage between Saint-Péray and Brives-Charensac.
The Jurassien won in a sprint with five breakaways who had managed to keep a few seconds ahead of the peloton.
This is the first success for this endearing rider in the colors of the TotalEnergies team which he joined in 2021.
He made himself known to the general public by winning the Mûr-de-Bretagne stage with panache during the 2015 Tour de France. what I've been through for a year, he confides on arrival.
I was in intensive care and today I win.
It's amazing ".
🏆🇬🇧 @A_Vuillermoz wins!
🏆🇬🇧 @A_Vuillermoz wins stage 2!#Dauphiné pic.twitter.com/VYPeDJEgaW
– Criterium du Dauphiné (@dauphine) June 6, 2022
Dominique Arnould, its sports director, is also delighted.
“He was not expected to take the breakaway because he had been asked to save himself for the third stage which suits his qualities as a puncher well.
But it's great.
»
First French yellow jersey since Moreau in 2007!
“It's true that I had to think above all about Tuesday's stage,” smiles Vuillermoz.
Normally, when I'm doing well, I pay for it the next day.
But with this jersey on my back, I won't have the right to let go.
So I will fight.
Vuillermoz is the first French yellow jersey since… Christophe Moreau in 2007 (Thibaut Pinot was the leader at the start of the last stage in 2020 because Primoz Roglic was a non-runner and he had never worn the yellow tunic).
“In any case, I think that this success is not due to chance, notes Vuillermoz.
I have had the best start to the season of my career.
In 24 days of racing, I've finished in the Top 10 12 times. That means I'm riding the bike I love again, that of an actor.
»
