Professional runner from 2015 to 2024, winner of a stage on the Tour de France (2017) and another on the Vuelta (2016), Lilian Calmejane (32 years old) officiates this year as a consultant for the Digital Platform of France Télévisions on the Tour de France. On the occasion of the first day of rest of this edition, he draws a first assessment of the ten days of racing and projects himself on the continuation of the events.
A word to define these first ten days of the Tour de France? And why?
Rather a sentence: I stay hungry. The designed route was really good, we had big highlights, superb stages, beautiful battles – especially the two escapes that go to the end with strong. I remember Boulogne, Rouen and the time. There is not much waste. But in the end, between the promises and what we had as a race for the general … We announced traps everywhere, and apart from the time trial which did damage, there was no battle or waste of time for the favorites. I expected a little more madness, but it’s around: over three weeks, we count his pedal strokes. There, with what happens, no one can hide anymore.
Tadej Pogacar was already the favorite before the departure of Lille. Is it even more today?
For me, it’s status quo. Ben Healy is in yellow, but he will back down quickly. Tadej Pogacar is a short step on everyone. Jonas Vingegaard, and to a lesser extent Remco Evenepoel, remain his two serious opponents. The hierarchy is the same as at the start.
“Perhaps Pogacar doubts a little, that he feels that the war of nerves is stronger this year”
We observe a less burned pugacar, more in management …
Quite. To know a little Loustic, we feel that he likes the race. When he can make a difference, he does not hesitate. Perhaps he just wants to be careful, because he knows that the Visma is waiting for the third week and the stages more than 5,000 meters of elevation. So he stays on the defensive, without exposing himself too much. It seems in control, not marked. The other hypothesis is that it is perhaps no longer the pogacar we have known, which made differences easily. Perhaps he doubts a little, that he feels that the war of nerves is stronger this year.
But I rather look for the first option. He was very arrogant in the Dauphiné in his way of winning and in his statements. Perhaps in his training, he was advised to be wary. He may keep it under the pedal to hit hard later. The three Pyrenean stages will be good opportunities. He may have learned to channel himself, to share the victories. For me, apart from Rouen where he was 100 %, he has not yet given everything.
What can Vingegaard hang on to hope to win? The passes, its more dense team, a peak of form scheduled later?
He alone knows if he is at the limit or if he can put a layer. The strategy of the Visma is obvious: entering the head of Pogacar, putting him in doubt, showing that they are solid. The only weakness of Pogacar is not the physical but the mind. He has so much talent that, as soon as a tough opponent puts him in difficulty, it annoys him. We saw him very upset when Madouas embarrassed him in his sprint in the turn of Flanders, and disgusted with the AMSTEL after being beaten by Skjelmose. The strategy is therefore to make him doubt, to hang on to the Pyrenees, and perhaps even resume time in Peyragudes. I saw images of Vingegaard in Toulouse which rolls on a time bike. Maybe he prepares something for Friday … he recognized this climb with his coaches. On the evening of the Peyragudes Chrono, we will have a clear situation.
Should Kévin Vauquelin continue to aim for a top 10, or get wrapped to play a stage?
I talked about it with him at the start of the turn. He said he was targeting stages, especially those of the first week that suited him well. In Normandy, he did not have an exit voucher. For me, it is the end of its “revelation” phase and the beginning of a transition. He will sign in a big team. He has already marked the Tour, but he has to go after what he has undertaken. Even if he explodes at the pedal, he will still be able to play escapes – notably Carcassonne, Pontarlier … that he clings to this top 10, that he takes date. With his profile – he walks on the Ardennes, in time – he can progress. One day, he may be able to play a podium on the Vuelta or the Giro. This year is to learn. He did not make all these efforts to drop ten minutes voluntarily. He is sixth as general, knowing that Healy will undoubtedly end up behind him. It’s already very beautiful.
What other French runners will you particularly follow in the coming days?
None disappoints me. They are all at their level. But they are very good runners, not necessarily champions. The Putanchers like Romain Grégoire rub in Pogacar and Van der Poel, the Rollers of Chrono like Bruno Armirail in Remco Evenepoel … Walking all season is one thing; Walking on the Tour is something else. You have to have your shoulders to endure all the pressure. I will especially follow Vauquelin, Lenny Martinez in his quest for the polka dot jersey – he will often be at the front – and Grégoire. And then, they are the future of our cycling.
Most recently, you have congratulated the runners who share their power data. Do you feel that there is a need for transparency?
Yes. I congratulated them because I have always shared my data during my career: power, heart rate. I’m glad that in this ultra modern, professional, sometimes opaque cycling, some still show data. Bruno Armirail, Clément Berthet does it, it’s great. The UCI (International Cycling Union) and ASO (Tour organizer) should do the same, since they have GPS trackers connected to the meters. This is important, even if it only concerns 1 % of followers. 99 % do not know what a watt is but sometimes think that what the runners do on the Tour is not possible, when these are the same performances all year round. Transparency strengthens the credibility of cycling. It is a free gesture for the cause. It is as if we asked all elected officials tomorrow to reveal who they use and their tax opinions: it would silence many rumors.
When you see Pogacar’s performance, you admire, excited, surprised, tired?
Not tired at all. This idea that we get tired of a runner who wins too much is very French. When Vingegaard won his second round, everyone criticized him because he was too cold, too robotic. And now that we have a pugacar who wins, we would like him to lose? I want spectacle, that the bike makes me vibrate. Of course we see the difference in level between him and the others. His domination is stunning. But it progresses from a little notch each year. And in addition, he never falls, is never sick … But I understand that some are skeptical, given the past of cycling. And so much the better. The high level, in all sports, always has a share of shadow. It’s not bad to have doubts. But tired, no.
And you, do you have any doubts?
This is a delicate question. But it is human: the quest for glory and victory can push for cheating. I have no more doubts about him than on another in the top 10. I cling to what I see, what is said in the environment. We can note that he is playing in a team managed by Mauro Gianetti, of course (sports director of the Saunier Duval team, one of the runners of which was controlled positive on the 2008 Tour, editor’s note). But its progression is credible, its profile too. You can never be 100 % safe. But I am not haunted by that. Even me, I saw my watts progress at certain periods without it translating into results. The overall level of the peloton has increased. And even today, with three more kilos but a new bike, I mount some bumps faster than when I was pro.
