The French have experienced years of scarcity on the big loop since the last tricolor victory, namely Bernard Hinault in 1985. Some gleaned stages or wear distinctive but few jerseys have mounted on the podium. Here are the last six having succeeded in this feat since 1985.
1986 : Bernard Hinault (2e)
A year after his victory and for his last participation on the Tour de France before his retirement, Bernard Hinault climbed on the second step of the podium after a duel with the American Greg Lemond. The Frenchman had however started on the hats of wheels, taking five minutes ahead of general from half of the Tour. But he ends up collapsing and lets the American pass him in front.
1987: Jean-François Bernard (3rd)
The French cyclist wins two stages. The battle for the general classification is played out at the end of the 21st stage but Bernard capitulates quickly and concedes two minutes on the yellow jersey Stephen Roche on arrival. He therefore finished third at the end of the Tour that year just in front of another Frenchman, Charly Mottet.
1989: Laurent Fignon (2nd)
The “wildest tour” saw a Laurent Fignon finish second behind Greg Lemond. The Frenchman was eagerly awaited and designated as one of the favorites after his victory on the Tour of Italy. From the 10th stage, Fignon holds the head of the general classification which he argues with the American Greg Lemond.
It was ultimately Lemond who won only 8 seconds in front of the French after the legendary final trial in Paris, the smallest gap ever recorded between a winner and his second in the Tour de France.
1996: Richard Virenque (3rd)
After a few years without any Frenchman really shining, Richard Virenque finished third and becoming the hero of the tricolor public. He also wins the polka dot jersey for the best climber in a difficult tour of France.
1997: Richard Virenque (2nd)
The French, second, wins a place compared to last year and ends again with the polka dot jersey. That year, Jan Ullrich was too strong. From the 10th stage he takes the lead in the general classification and will not leave it.
2014 :
Two French podiums, a rarity. It had not happened since 1984 and Bernard Hinault before Laurent Fignon. After a complicated first week and tracking in the North, it is the Italian Vincenzo Nibali who took the general’s first place in the second stage.
Nibali will logically win with a large lead in Paris on Jean-Christophe Péraud and Thibaut Pinot. The latter also wins the best young white jersey.
2016: Romain Bardet (2nd)
Announced as a favorite after winning the Critérium du Dauphiné, the British Christopher Froome wins without surprise on the Tour de France after several days of domination. Behind him, at a little over four minutes, we find the tricolor Romain Bardet who managed to win the 19th stage.
2017 : Romain Bardet (3e)
It is the latest tricolor podium and the second podium for Bardet which ends on the smallest step more than two minutes from Froome, once again winner. Bardet still won a step unlike the British who won without any stage victory.
