Even if belonging to a team weighs more heavily than nationality alone in cycling, supporters of the "Blues" have reason to be satisfied with the progress of David Gaudu, fourth in the final standings.
The Breton from the Groupama-FDJ team obtained the best result in the final classification since Romain Bardet's third place in 2017.
In the four previous editions, only Alaphilippe had made the top 5 on the Champs-Élysées (in 2019).
This shows the quality of Gaudu's performance, helped by Valentin Madouas, eleventh overall luxury lieutenant, and a group, however deprived of the French time trial champion Bruno Armirail, ousted from the selection despite his links with the leader and his past dedication.
Frenchman Valentin Madouas at the start of the 1st Tour de France time trial on July 1, 2022 in Copenhagen Bo Amstrup Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Archives
"We saw good Gaudu and the others were at the level, estimated Marc Madiot, the boss of the team. We did a good job. Not bad for a small French team!"
If she had approached the Grail in 2019 with Thibaut Pinot, until her retirement two days from the finish, her training had no longer obtained a result of this level since the place on the podium won by the Franc-Comtois in 2014 (third).
Eight years later, Pinot has left the responsibilities to his younger brother who, at 25, is improving again and again.
Frenchman Thibaut Pinot (g) behind Belgian Wout Van Aert during the 18th stage between Lourdes and Hautacam, July 21, 2022 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP
"We are going to have a great David Gaudu in the next editions of the Tour, bet Valentin Madouas, his great friend. I think he amazed himself, he will come out matured from this Tour de France and review his objectives at the rise."
Laporte finally opens
In 2014, Romain Bardet took sixth place before reaching the podium twice.
The Auvergnat, whose natural assets are consistency and regularity, finished the Tour de France in seventh place.
His fifth best result in nine appearances.
"I did what I could with my means", he said, while recalling not "having followed an ideal preparation" because of his abandonment at the Giro, his first objective of the season.
But his third place at the top of the Granon confirms the high level of the runner from Brioude, soon to be 32 years old.
Frenchman Christophe Laporte winner of the 19th stage of the Tour de France, July 22, 2022 in Cahors Marco BERTORELLO AFP / Archives
Will this be enough to encourage him to come back more often to try his luck in the big one-day races?
Subject, of course, to the agreement of the DSM team, which had closed the door to the Tokyo Olympics last summer.
The Dutchman Bauke Mollema, masterful winner of the Tour of Lombardy 2019, represents an example if the Auvergnat intends to give a new direction to his career.
Without Julian Alaphilippe and Arnaud Démare, two of the most prolific French riders in terms of bouquets, the number of stage successes remained modest.
Only Christophe Laporte raised his arms on the line, in Cahors.
His victory still owes a lot to his Jumbo team, "100%" in the opinion of the Varois, who had never known such satisfaction in the Tour.
Frenchman Romain Bardet finishes with the 16th stage of the Tour de France, July 19, 2022 in Foix Marco BERTORELLO AFP / Archives
Last year, Alaphilippe had scored entry for the only French victory.
Laporte did the same, but this time at the end of the Tour.
To symbolically save the honor of the blue-white-red flag.
© 2022 AFP