TOUR DE FRANCE YELLOW JERSEY - For Europe 1, Tony Gallopin (AG2R-La Mondiale), who was the last wearer of the yellow jersey before Julian Alaphilippe, evokes his memories with the famous tunic.

TOUR DE FRANCE

During the Tour de France 2014, Tony Gallopin had seized the yellow jersey in favor of a breakaway to several on the road to Mulhouse. He had worn it during the 10th stage, a July 14 under a dantesque weather to The Plank of Beautiful Girls. "It's something you can not imagine when you're a kid, because you look at it with big eyes," he explained to the mic of Europe 1. The yellow jersey, it goes beyond the middle of the bike It was something exceptional ... This moment was grandiose (...) (Until Monday and the double blow directed by Julian Alaphilippe) We often spoke about me as the last French yellow jersey, not necessarily like the stage winner or whatever else I could do. "

Indeed, between July 13, 2014 and July 8, 2019, no French rider had worn the famous tunic. "Personally, it remained for me a little pride to be the last French Yellow Jersey (...) But between the wear and bring it back to Paris, it's a big difference ..."

"It's still a magical moment, probably the greatest moment of my career, that's for sure."

Three days after taking the Yellow Jersey, Tony Gallopin, who no longer wore it at that time, had won a stage at Oyonnax. These are two very different emotions. "The victory stage, it happens, the feeling on the moment is very strong, and then after that happens very quickly (...) But this yellow jersey, we see it coming, we imagine the day before, the morning, we take the break all day, we think about it.And then, on arrival, when we tell you, "It's you who is yellow jersey", these are two completely different sensations, it's more progressive. The joy is different but the emotion is stronger.We enter the very closed circle of runners who have been able to wear it.It is indescribable, for the rest of our lives, it remains a moment apart. This moment apart, it is Julian Alaphilippe who knew it in turn, Monday, in Épernay.