Tour de France: Alaphilippe, Pinot, Gaudu ... Bernard Hinault sees no French succeed him

INTERVIEW

Marie Myriam and Bernard Hinault have one thing in common: for more than thirty years, one wonders which Frenchman will be able (finally) to succeed them on the prize list.

If "The Bird and the Child" made France triumph in 1977 for the last time at the Eurovision Song Contest, it is only necessary to go back "to" 1985 to hear the Marseillaise during the Tour de France podium, with the fifth coronation of the "Badger" on the Grande Boucle.

But to listen to him, the next generation is not for now!

Although Bernard Hinault looks with admiration on the talent of the French currently in the peloton, whether on Julian Alaphilippe, Thibaut Pinot or David Gaudu, the Breton does not believe that one of them is armed to win this event. so selective of 21 stages, as he confides on Europe 1 in the program “Face aux auditeurs” presented by Lionel Rosso.

On the other hand, he is delighted to see how the new generation is rich in many talents, who will work together to fill their personal achievements and offer, no doubt, a fascinating spectacle.

Julian Alaphilippe?

"I don't see how he could fight"

If there is a Frenchman who has given birth to hope in France in recent years, it is Julian Alaphilippe.

The Deceuninck-Quick Step rider is one of the very best current riders in the world, author of three particularly successful seasons with five classics gleaned (two Walloon Arrows in 2018 and 2019, a Milan-San Remo in 2019, a Clasica San Sebastian in 2018 and the Strade Bianche in 2019) and especially five stages on the Tour de France which he illuminated by wearing twenty times (3 times in 2018 and 2020 and 14 in 2019) the yellow jersey.

Insufficient, however, for Bernard Hinault, as the competition is important and his profile not adequate to last three weeks.

"I don't think Julian Alaphilippe is made to win the Tour de France," he says straight away.

"In the high mountains, when he has done a day or two, he will have a lot of trouble. When you know the forces in front of him, when you see the climbers there are, I don't see how he could fight" , explains first the Breton, now 66 years old.

"He's made to win classics, to win stages, world championships, like he did, because he's a puncher. At one point, on a small bump, a small pass, he is able to achieve a feat, but on a big pass, when there is really a fight between the big ones, he will not be present ".

>> READ ALSO -

Thomas Voeckler and the "con question" of Alexandre Pasteur

Thibaut Pinot?

"I do not believe it"

The leader of Groupama-FDJ "is capable of doing great numbers", as "he showed on the Tour of the year before (2019,

)".

"But to win the Tour, I can't believe it," said Bernard Hinault.

Or, possibly, under conditions ... "He can win the Tour by doing what Thomas Voeckler did: start in a breakaway, end up with six or seven minutes in advance, who is going to get him? It's just like that, but you have to take risks ".

"He is not there to win the Tour de France at the start".

Author of a podium on the 2014 Grande Boucle won by Vincenzo Nibali, Thibaut Pinot never succeeded in subsequently confirming his status as a potential favorite of the Tour (16th in 2015, 29th in 2020, withdrawals in 2016, 2017 and 2019 and package in 2018). 

David Gaudu, more suited for stages or a mountain jersey

The Breton David Gaudu has an interesting profile to shine on the professional circuit, but not enough to win the flagship race of cycling, believes Bernard Hinault, despite his 13th place in the 2019 Tour, gleaned at only 23 years old and "having nevertheless worked enormously for Pinot ".

"I don't think he can win the Tour de France, because there are time trials. But going for stages, or occasionally winning a jersey in the mountains, it's possible. But you have to play this card ", continues the" Badger ".

In terms of racing strategy, Bernard Hinault would have bet more on David Gaudu.

"If I had been in Madiot's place (the manager of Groupama-FDJ), I would have played two cards at the same time: and Pinot, and little Gaudu because he was not too well known therefore at the 'occasion he could have left in the right breakaway. "

"I have never seen such a young generation, it's exceptional"

If the French are not ready for Bernard Hinault to win the Tour, he is happy to see the young generation of cycling arrive, so talented and so dense.

"It's exceptional. In my whole career, for forty years that I have been in the bicycle, I have never seen a generation so young, at the same time. It is really magnificent", he savored, in referring without quoting them to the young Remco Evenepoel (20 years old), Mathieu Van der Poel (25 years old) or Daniel Martinez (24 years old), without forgetting of course the last two winners of the Tour de France Tadej Pogacar (22 years old) and Egan Bernal (23 years old).

And the co-record holder of victory on the Grande Boucle (with Merckx, Anquetil and Indurain) concludes by slipping a little advice to the French: "You may have to put yourself in your head that you can win stages rather than say 'we're going to be fifth or sixth in the Tour de France': after ten years, everyone will have forgotten! ".