La Rochelle (AFP)
Freshness, this is the key word that explains the fine step taken by Guillaume Martin in the Tour de France, where he turns third after the first week.
"It's successful in all respects", relishes the Normand of the Cofidis team who is not otherwise surprised to appear so high after nine days of racing.
Only 28 seconds behind the yellow Primoz Roglic jersey.
"It is not a performance that comes from nowhere", he reminds those who ignore him or who ignore his career since the amateurs and his victory in Liège-Bastogne-Liège hopes 2015, which had, inexplicably, not convinced the managers of the French teams at the time to recruit him.
"I finished third in the Dauphiné (in mid-August) with a field that was more or less the same. How far can that lead? I couldn't say it at the start, I can't say it yet" .
During the day of rest in Charente-Maritime, the Ornais appreciated being questioned about his performances and no longer just about his label of runner-philosopher, author of a book (Socrate à Vélo) or of a play.
"People have talked to me less about philosophy in recent weeks and that's good," he said.
"When I write books, I like to be judged by the quality of the books. It's the same with cycling."
So back to performance.
The reasons for his steadily ascending progression since joining the professional peloton in 2016?
"It's due to a lot of things," replied Guillaume Martin.
"The change of team (from Wanty to Cofidis) gave me more means to develop my level. There is also the fact of simply resting. In recent years, I have gone through full seasons, 90 days of race last year ".
- The Nietzschean reference -
"At the start of the 2019 Tour, he explains, I was 45 days away, ten more than the one who totaled the most among the eleven riders who preceded me in the final classification. I have a freshness that I hadn't and I was able to prepare optimally by staying at altitude ".
Coming to the Tour to win a stage, in a Cofidis team which has been waiting for this success since 2008, the Frenchman is caught up in the ranking game.
"It would be a lie to say that I do not care about the general, he admits with a smile. It would be a shame to let him down when I am well placed. I do not put myself under pressure at all, I stay From the perspective of the team, which has for priority objective to aim for a stage victory, we have the means to do so in the next two weeks ".
Even if his position complicates things: "I saw the leaders react to some of my attacks, it's recognition but the status must be ratified. I notice that it is a little more complicated to find the position. (in the peloton), I get heckled a bit more than others. "
What does he think of the favorites?
The judgment, as always, is wise: "Roglic, Bernal, Pogacar, those are the three names that come out. Roglic is very impressive, it is no coincidence that he is yellow jersey. But, he has a mask, which makes him always easy in his style. I think if he was that easy he could have attacked earlier in the Pyrenees. "
Before launching a last pirouette with Nietzschean reference: "His team seemed flawless and we saw that he was lonely in the first Pyrenean arrival. I still believe in the possibility of overthrowing the idols, otherwise it is not worth it of running."
© 2020 AFP