Sarran (France) (AFP)
The Covid propelled him without warning to the controls of the biggest race in the world.
With the quarantine of Christian Prudhomme, tested positive for the new coronavirus, François Lemarchand became the unexpected boss of an unprecedented Tour de France and under pressure.
The model teammate was pushed into the light.
François Lemarchand, former gregario of Greg LeMond, officiated until then in Paris-Nice.
With the positive test from Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme on Tuesday, he had to take charge of the race management.
"I know how to do it but it's the Tour de France, it changes the situation. When you find yourself in front of the yellow jersey and the others ... Even to give the start, to make a decision ... It's the Tour de France when even ", he breathes less than two hours before giving his third start on this Tour.
No question for the former rider with thirteen seasons at the highest level to hide a "certain pressure".
"We are reaching important milestones," he recalls.
The Tour reaches the summit of Puy Mary on Friday, at the Grand Colombier on Sunday.
And Christian Prudhomme will not be able to resume his role before Tuesday, for the 16th stage, at the earliest.
That is to say a total of at least six stages to be directed to François Lemarchand.
"Since the time he has been doing that, he has mastered all the tricks, reassures his former leader at Z, Ronan Pensec.
"He has the experience, the skill and has held all the different positions," he says.
The fact remains that after more than 20 years in the organization of Paris-Nice (joined before its takeover by ASO), including 10 years in charge of the direction of the "race to the sun", François Lemarchand had not yet experienced a such a media whirlwind.
- "Everything is tenfold" -
"It has never happened to me, he admits. Everything is increased tenfold on the Tour".
In addition to the usual gigantism of the Great Loop, the Covid context was added this year.
"These are decisions that go beyond sport. I find myself confronted a little with that, not entirely, describes François Lemarchand. I am asked questions about what will happen next week."
Next week and its second battery of virological tests in the race: with the threat for the teams to be excluded in the event of two positive members.
“I have already learned to manage events with unusual things,” he recalls.
He was precisely in charge of the last edition of Paris-Nice, shortened by one step due to the pandemic.
But the sources of stress on the Tour are not always what you might think.
Less than two hours before the start of the 12th stage on Thursday, François Lemarchand scribbles pages in green ink: "I'm looking for information so as not to speak nonsense on Radio Tour, for example scratching a name or making a mistake in a title. And don't forget anybody ".
Especially on a day rich in tribute like Thursday: "Today is special: Raymond Poulidor, Jacques Chirac, Antoine Blondin. We must not forget them. And then there are also people in the race: François Baroin, Jean -François Lamour ".
The ex-runner therefore reviews.
"François has always been someone who listens, very professional, nickel in his job", praises Roger Legeay, former boss of the Crédit Agricole team (formerly Z then Gan), who had him 9 years under his orders.
"It is no coincidence that he is there," he underlines, recalling in passing that he was part of the last French team to win the Tour in 1990: Z with Greg LeMond.
"He was a road captain, but naturally without imposing it, a bit of a shadow worker."
Till Tuesday.
It has since been in full light.
© 2020 AFP