Romain Bardet once again plays a role in the general classification on the 2020 Tour. -

Stephane Mahe / AP / SIPA

  • In great difficulty last year, Bardet has regained the level that had made him a regular on the podium in 2016 and 2017

  • The Frenchman had come to play the stages and possibly wear the Yellow Jersey, he is now fighting for a top 5 place in the general classification

  • A little behind the favorites, Baret does not dare to dream too hard before the third decisive week in the Alps

There are cranks that should give more pleasure than others, if we put ourselves in the place of Romain Bardet.

On the first day of rest of the Tour de France 2019, we were three peeled and one shaved to ask for news from Auvergnat, completely beside his pumps, while the France of cycling had the eyes of love for Alaphilippe and Pinot.

Summary of the first week ... 🤦🏻‍♂️ https://t.co/6MqKsAPvOX

- PINOT Thibaut (@ThibautPinot) September 7, 2020

A little over a year later, the leader of Groupama-FDJ tweets his spleen with the humor of the desperate, and it is moreover to wonder if Bardet is not sucking the negative energy of another great French runner in recent years to transform it into a magic potion, according to the well-known theory of communicating vessels.

"I appreciate being back to this level"

In short, Bardet has become himself again.

Fourth in the general 30 seconds behind Roglic, like in the heyday of Sky hunting.

“I am very proud to have raised my head and not to have abandoned the Tour last year.

When you cycle at 70% of your capacity like last year, it calls into question all the sacrifices you can make for this sport.

I appreciate being back to this level without making any plans on the comet.

The ranking will be what it will be in Paris, I just enjoy fighting on my bike with the best in the world ”.

Romain Bardet 🚴‍♂️🟡💪 https://t.co/TdeH697BLB pic.twitter.com/qpRnQ2dNh7

- RCL_Thibaut1906 (@MagiicRapidzz) September 7, 2020

The result of a long break ordered by Vincent Lavenu in the fall of 2019, when his leader was on the verge of professional burnout.

“He had to deal with this physical wear and tear that was threatening him.

He took the time to regenerate, with the particularity of this 2020 season where we spent a lot of time without running.

I always say that when a runner has reached a certain level, he is able to come back to it.

Romain has finished twice on the Tour podium, we know he has this ability.

With his hardworking qualities and his will to succeed, it was quite possible that he would return to this level.

The competition is strong, but Romain is not very far.

Nothing should be forbidden ”.

Without whispering it too loudly.

"The general classification had become an obsession for Romain, there I feel him liberated"

For the moment, nothing is changed in the very fickle organization of AG2R, where everyone can check their objectives as they wish - Already a stage for Peters, the polka dot jersey on Cosnefroy's shoulders - without feel obliged to tighten the line behind Bardet as soon as the recce announces a pothole on the side of the road.

“I don't need seven teammates to attention.

I prefer when the team plays stage wins and the polka dot jersey.

I am the first to be delighted to see that the responsibilities are diluted on several riders and that there is a positive dynamic.

I couldn't have been better ranked with seven guys in my service.

When I lack a little to move to the top with the leading group on Sunday, it's not because I have a teammate more or less ”.

I would have preferred the battle to last ... Good recovery to @ PerezAnthony1 who had to leave the @LeTour route on fall.

pic.twitter.com/opq21w6CWB

- Cosnefroy Benoit (@BenoitCosnefroy) August 31, 2020

This apparent detachment is good for everyone internally.

“I found that the general classification was an obsession for Romain, there I feel him liberated, confirms the pedal crush Olivier Naesen.

It is perhaps thanks to you, the press, you did not annoy him too much with all that in his preparation, it was much better for him, we all feel that in the team ”.

However, Bardet must be a little pissed off around the edges.

The original idea was to take advantage of this crumbling status to go for the yellow in the first week and then have fun.

For the yellow it's dead, and for the rest, must see.

We do not let a Romain Bardet in this form snort like a Labrador in heat in a breakaway of old veterans of the Tour.

“30 seconds to regain the yellow from Roglic who is one leg above, it's huge, except for a miracle.

I'm not among the very firsts he needs to watch, he's not going to jump on me but I don't expect him to give me much room.

As much when I was at 10 seconds there was a possibility, as much I let go I released a little ballast Sunday after 8 perfect days, which leaves me a little regret ».

"For the yellow jersey, it would take a miracle"

The Frenchman spontaneously evokes the summit of Marie-Blanque, where he waited too long to plug the hole with the big favorites, as if he was not convinced himself that he had to count himself again in that court. .

"I think I was a little too careful, I should have gone 2 km from the top when they started the machine.

When I made the junction a little later, I had not yet recovered from my effort and I could not take the wheel to the top ”.

It must be said that if Bardet has eaten the Tour more corseted than a London governess out of Nordland College, he had never seen the guys ride so hard in front, after six months pawing in the stable.

“There is a new generation that is already breaking everything, it's going up even faster than before.

You have to hang on, believe in yourself, and let time take its course, you never know.

For the moment the levels are very homogeneous, it is played out in seconds, but it's an exhausting Tour, where when the battle starts, there are one or two top 10 riders who pay the price.

It is already a question of not being one of those for the tricky week ahead ”.

⛰️⏱️Tadej Pogacar today set a new historic record on the Col de Peyresourde in 24'35 ". He improved Vinokourov and Mayo's 2003 time by 45".


~ 6.8 w / kg for Pogacar # TDF2020 #lesrp #veloclub #TDF pic.twitter.com/ZY9BsXoh4i

- We Cycling (@We_Cyclisme) September 5, 2020

The crazy hope of a third week that breaks the patterns

The “secret” ambition of the leader of AG2R, as Vincent Lavenu sums it up?

That the team avoid the pitfalls of the second week, starting with a stage open to the four winds on Tuesday towards the Ile d'Oléron, while the team had gone through a bit during the curbs in Lavaur.

Then?

Count on physical curves which gently cross each other, even if no one will dream too high with a hard-wearing time trial placed on the eve of the finish, which will see the Auvergnat concede its regulatory minute thirty.

🎙 Declared / 🇫🇷 @romainbardet (A2R) # TDF2020: "It's my 8th Tour, I have a little experience and I approach the event differently than on my first Tours. I know that it is just necessary trying to blend into the landscape to emerge at the right time. "

(source: The Team)

- Cycling Chronicle (@ChroniqueDuVelo) September 7, 2020

In the meantime, Pogaçar is shooting all the way, but will it also be aerial in the Alps?

More stingy than Harpagon, Roglic calculates the slightest pedal stroke, but it turns out that his team has more air holes than announced.

Bardet, he imagines himself "in the same dynamic as Bernal.

Saturday we were both on the verge of breaking up, and Sunday was already better even if he was above.

There is the desire to show myself to play for the win to be in front, knowing that for me the opportunities are coming.

But we do not have a reservoir of unlimited cartridges, we will have to try to find the openings when there will be fewer teammates with the leaders ”.

Lavenu wants to believe it: "the peloton is not muzzled, things can happen every day, all scenarios are possible even if Roglic is strong".

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  • Thibaut Pinot

  • Tour de France

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  • Romain bardet