Thirty-four years without a French victory. The fans of the Great Loop count the years without success since the last victory of Bernard Hinault, in 1985. But the 2019 edition of the Tour de France could well put an end to this scarcity tricolor. At the start of the last week of one of the three famous "grand tours", Monday, July 22, the yellow jersey is worn by a Frenchman, Julian Alaphilippe, followed by the British Geraint Thomas (2nd at 1'35), the Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk (3rd at 1'47) ... and Thibaut Pinot, another Frenchman (4th at 1'50).
For the first time in years, the outcome of the Great Loop does not seem written in advance, as explained by the sports commentator Jean-René Godart, contacted by France 24: "It's a very open Tour de France This year, very indecisive, the fact that Christopher Froome [four times winners of the Great Loop between 2013 and 2017, Ed] does not start has changed the situation, and the French have also really prepared for months this Tour. "
First and foremost, Julian Alaphilippe, the most prominent on the podium since the start of the Tour, with 11 yellow jerseys gleaned over two weeks. But the cyclist Deceuninck-Quick Step team showed for the first time signs of weakness on July 21, in the rise of the Prat d'Albis. "Everything I did, I start paying for it, that's quite logical," said the principal after the stage. "What he does is out of the ordinary," said Jean-Rene Godart. "He tends to push his limits daily, but good yesterday [Sunday], I think he was at the point of breaking." Not necessarily reassuring before the last week of competition where will be held the three stages in the Alps, before the final finish in Paris.
"Thibaut Pinot is unquestionably armed for the final victory"
Especially as Thibaut Pinot seems to have a profile cut for the high mountain than Julian Alaphilippe. Even if the yellow jersey surprised his world crossing the Pyrenees while maintaining the first place in the overall standings, his shot on Sunday is not a good omen before the start of the Alps, Thursday, July 25, where is scheduled the ascent of two mountain passes and a 1st category pass.
"Julian Alaphilippe has a strong team around him but rather made to defend his leader on various terrains, not especially to support a war in the high mountains", analyzes Jean-René Godart, who "does not believe (t) in his victory final". For the latter, however, he considers that Thibaut Pinot "is unquestionably armed". And he says: "Already, it is stronger in the high mountains than Julian Alaphilippe, we saw it again yesterday (Sunday, Ed) and moreover, it is really well prepared for the three weeks of this tour level freshness He arrives in full maturity, at 29, surrounded by an exceptional manager - Marc Madiot - and good runners - Gaudu and Reichenbach. "
Questioned on the second day of rest by AFP, Monday, July 22, Thibaut Pinot claims to have "learned not to ignite" about his chances of final victory. He explains: "I still do not feel like the favorite, far from it. (...) Over the last two days, I was perhaps the strongest, but the Tour lasts until Sunday, it can be spend a lot of things. " But the rider of the Groupama-FDJ team makes a promise for the alpine stages: "It will depend on my legs, if they are good I will go on the attack."
The French rider is right to be cautious before this crucial week: during the 10th stage, well placed in the race for the overall classification (3rd), he found himself trapped in a border stroke and lost nearly two minutes on the other favorites. "But this year will be the good, I really believe," said Jean-Rene Godart, who is "confident" about the chances of victory of Thibaut Pinot, while stating "do not have a habit of making predictions unreasonable ".
The former commentator of France Televisions, who was already at the microphone during the last and fifth victory of Bernard Hinault on the Tour de France, thinks that "for the first time since 1985, the last French victory, we will perhaps hear the Marseillaise at the top of the Champs-Elysées Sunday. " Provided that Geraint Thomas and Steven Kruijswijk, strong in high mountains, do not come to disrupt this French ambition to reconnect with the victory on the Great Loop.