Tour de France: "Less solidarity in the gruppetto"

Audio 01:14

“There is an atmosphere that can be relaxed in the gruppetto ...” REUTERS / Stephane Mahe

Text by: Thomas-Sean de Saint Leger Follow

6 min

Since the start from Nice, Pierre-Luc Périchon has been RFI's eye inside the peloton.

In this 6th episode of his diaries, the road captain of the Cofidis team, just shortlisted for the World Championships, talks about life in the gruppetto, the mini peloton where those who cannot follow the best meet. mountain climbers.  

Publicity

Read more

In the small papers of the coach

“I learned yesterday (Wednesday) my preselection for the road race of the World Championships (note: in Italy, September 27).

It had been in the pipes for a few days, Cédric Vasseur, my sporting director had mentioned it, and Thomas Voeckler (the national coach) then told me.

I'm not excited, because the final list of 8 riders will be known next Saturday, but it's already a mark of confidence, a recognition of the work accomplished since the start of this Tour de France alongside my leader Guillaume Martin .

Physically, I may not be the strongest in this first selection, but as Guillaume should be part of the adventure, he will need to be supported.

We are used to working together, my condition is good, so it could be interesting.

If I go, it won't be to play my card, but as on the Tour in a role of team member, for my usual leader and for all the leaders of the France team.

I'm ready to jump in!

"

A day in the back

“Today, the stage reached the Col de la Loze, an unprecedented and terrible climb.

I knew her for having scouted, but in the race it's even harder!

I finished in a

very dense, with more than half of the pack.

The

brings together different types of riders, mainly team members who can no longer support their leaders at the front, and of course sprinters, who have difficulty in passing the passes and must protect themselves in view of the more favorable stages.

The goal is to arrive together on time.

There is a form of mutual aid that takes hold in this group, but less than in other years.

Today, the race is harder, and when it is harder, solidarity has its limits.

If a rider needs a can, and his car is not nearby, we'll get him one, but we're not going to drive for him either.

It's still different when you find

in a small

:

yesterday (Wednesday), for example, I found myself with about fifteen runners, everyone was passing their batches to reach the finish.

That's the number one goal, and when you hear that a runner is out of time, it's always a bit sad.

It happened to Jérôme Cousin yesterday, and I was really disappointed for him because he is a warrior.

"

In the gruppetto, not always la dolce vita

“There is an atmosphere that can be relaxed in the

but with limits.

I'm a pretty talkative and joker, and not the least at ease in general, so I sometimes let go of little nonsense, but not everyone likes it.

I collect "Ta gu ...!"

"From those who are more to the block and who do not want to joke.

A little anecdote: in the Pyrenees, I used to laugh with Pierre Latour, telling him: 'I didn't come here to suffer, OK', and I thought about a runner who was really suffering.

More generally, there are fewer and fewer teasers in the peloton.

I get along well with a lot of runners, but I mess around especially with Pierre Latour, we share the same delusions.

"

The last ramp of the Col de la #Loze, final ascent of the 17th stage of # TDF2020 This is the first passage of the Grande Boucle here, at 2300m altitude #ouch # tourdefrance2020 pic.twitter.com/pN4N4Vu3kU

  Thomas de Saint Leger (@ThomasdeStLeger) September 16, 2020

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Sports

• Cycling

• Tour de France 2020