He probably did not have the record he deserved. Sylvain Chavanel, record holder of the participation in the Tour de France (18) was presented at the beginning of his career as the new Bernard Hinault. But, on the Tour, the native of Châtellerault has never been able to play the general classification. His only two yellow jerseys, all freshly retired, won the 2010 Tour, after two stage victories. The first, where he had imposed himself alone, had been marked by a fall of the leaders. His second win was clearer.
"When I first took the yellow jersey in 2010, when I arrived at Spa (2nd stage), there was a big fall in the back ( involving Alberto Contador or Andy Schleck, ed .). I fell on it like that, I was very emotional, it was a child's dream, I played capsules, the little bike in the sand with my brothers (...) But where I had more emotions This is the second time I have taken the jersey at the Rousses ski resort (stage 7) I was able to silence all the critics My performance was questioned after the fall (occurred during the 2nd stage) but this time it was only the pedal that I took the shirt and it was my greatest joy. "
But, surprise, the former runner of the Quick Step was more enthusiastic when he received the lion stuffed rather than the yellow jersey ... "We always come back to childhood, this stuffed, it marked me for years , and I find it beautiful, I even had more emotions to receive the stuffed toy than the yellow jersey Having the soft toy was an accomplishment A dream come true I always have these soft toys. "
"The fans have only one goal is to know where is the Yellow Jersey"
But the next day, the emotion of the famous yellow jersey took over. "We are more aware when the next step comes because you have the dress, everyone is watching you and there you are measuring the importance, I remember all his media, all the fans. "One goal is to know where the yellow jersey is, you realize how big the thing is, the fun it gives to people."
For the anecdote, Sylvain Chavanel even had a call from the President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy. "I was with Jerome Pineau when I had the president, we laughed because I just had the yellow jersey and pants while I had the president at the end of the line."