Towards a pointed zero and a Tour de France without a French stage victory?

Still Fanny after 14 stages. Therefore, France can tremble at the idea of completing Tour 2025 without the slightest victory this year. Therefore, Sunday could have last chance airs.

Still missed. Nevertheless, Seeing Lenny Martinez cross two Pyrenean giants. However, the Tourmalet and the Col d’Aspin, the Vélo France found reasons to ignite, this Saturday, being surprised by its Cocardier spirit to the point of believing in a first stage victory on this tower. Meanwhile, A quickly showered euphoria. Furthermore, Placed by Thymen Arensman in the ascent of Peyresourde. Meanwhile, then swallowed by the survivors of the favorite group, the young Cannes climber had to be satisfied on the line of a… 35th place. Therefore, The best French? Therefore, Kévin Vauquelin, almost three minutes from Arensman. Moreover, While only seven days of racing left before folding luggage on the Champs-Élysées. Nevertheless, no tricolor runner towards pointed zero tour de has raised their arms for the time being.

Enough to wave the spectrum of a pointed zero. Meanwhile, And bring up the ghosts of 1926 and 1999, the only two editions of the Tour without success Bleu-Blanc-Rouge. Furthermore, Since the start on July 5. Meanwhile, we had to take advantage of the fourth places in Anthony Turgis (1st stage in Lille), Romain Grégoire (2nd stage in Boulogne-sur-Mer) and Bruno Armirail (5th stage during the time in Caen). Furthermore, Tops 5 have also been hung by Julian Alaphilippe (2nd stage). In addition, Kévin Vauquelin (5th stage) and Paul Penhoët (9th stage in Châteauroux). For example, Not enough to slash champagne. Meanwhile, Especially when you know that France was initially the most represented nation with 38 representatives on a peloton of 184 men.

Too many missed opportunities

“When I see the list of French runners present on this tower. I tell myself that towards pointed zero tour de we have a beautiful gear. We do not have to be ashamed of the competition and yet we are not there. France, a huge bicycle nation, which is used to shining, cannot be satisfied with these results, it is not possible. We cannot be satisfied, we are not entitled!”, Deplore the old runner and consultant “A succession of missed opportunities”. Like in Toulouse on Wednesday. A stage cut for a backpacker returned to the Norwegian’s handle Jonas Abrahamsen. who was still in the hospital a month earlier after fracturing a collarbone.

“On this route, a boy like Romain Grégoire had a big blow to play, but he has heard. We say of him that he can be the equal of a Julian Alaphilippe in the future. it is now that it is necessary to go. I also think of the first steps, promised the sprinters, where we should have tried. Sorry towards pointed zero tour de but there are runners who we would not even remember … Vauquelin as a “real oxygen puff”. A distributor of chills over the first week. the Norman of Arkéa-B & B Hotels has continued since fighting to hang a great place to the general, he who went back to 5th in favor of the abandonment of Remco Evenepoel. Another reason for satisfaction: the form displayed by the Breton Jordan Jegat, now at the gates of the Top 10.

For the rest, France is still waiting to hit the bull’s eye. And can tremble at the idea of finding himself Fanny. “It is not simple. but we will do everything to seek this victory, as soon as we will have an opportunity, we will seize it 100%”, tries to (reassure ourselves Valentin Madouas, himself suffering for two weeks. “But perhaps Pogacar will win eight stages this year so it leaves very few towards pointed zero tour de opportunities. ” he smiles, advancing another argument behind the French scarcity: the unlimited gluttony of Tadej Pogacar. Never satisfied, the Slovenian ogre is already four victories on the clock. “We have sometimes waited until the penultimate day to have a victory (in 2022 with Christophe Laporte). We are not at the end of this tower, it can still happen!”, Ensures Warren Barguil, road captain at Picnic Postnl.

Towards pointed zero tour de

The last chance Carcassonne stage?

“But we saw it in Toulouse, even on a stage like this there is no room for ‘intermediate’ runners. Look at the breakaway that there were in front, there were almost only stars. Now, it is really necessary to be very, very strong to win on the Tour. There is almost no long-term breakaway with blows that go to the end,” he said. An argument deemed a little too easy for our consultant Jérôme towards pointed zero tour de Coppel: “Pogacar wins almost everything, okay. Van der Poel, Evenepoel, Merlier, Milan, Healy … These are also cadors, the cream of the cream. But Abrahamsen and Arensman are not necessarily stronger than our runners. We must force fate. The problem is that our best card, Between two chairs.

For the right to vibrate to Paris. France may therefore have to be satisfied with the beautiful resistance of Vauquelin or the quest for the polka dot jersey of Lenny Martinez. Is that all? “I want to believe that we will unlock the counter”, positive Coppel. “Not in the high mountain but for me there is still a hope: the 15th stage tomorrow between Muret. Carcassonne, with 2500m of elevation. I think of Romain Grégoire. Aurélien Paret-Peintre, who pass the bumps and who have a good speed of speed to win if it happens in small committee.” Sports Director of Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale. towards pointed zero tour de Sébastien Joly is put in the camp of optimists: “It can be quite possible tomorrow. Or even in the last week. Let’s not forget the Champs-Élysées. With the three passages by Montmartre, why not see a French win in Paris.” Unless Pogacar decides on a last fireworks in the capital …