VIDEO. Tour de France: Bernard Hinault, last Frenchman affected by yellow fever! Can a Frenchman win the big loop this year?

The other day when they saw Nico Prodhomme coating Luz-Ardiden’s laces on the road to Occitanie, in full sun, we thought that summer. To this baptism of the Toy country station in the big loop and the victory of Perico Delgado, barely hosted because of the thick fog. The fog, he was also under the skull of the badger, yellow jersey on his shoulders, on the way to his fifth coronation, but really not well from the Tourmalet.

Without the instructions (Bernard Tapie had intervened in person promising the next round at his favorite cowboy …), Greg Lemond would undoubtedly have taken power a year earlier than expected. On the fields, five days later, one could not suspect that Bernard Hinault, still carrying the consequences of his convertible on the Fauriel Cours of Saint-Etienne would be the last French to register his name in the list.

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Tour de France 2025: “Not had the opportunity to discuss …” When Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar meet by preparing the big loop

The following four decades have seen some hopes, Laurent Fignon during the Chrono, Pathetic of 1989 (against Lemond rightly), double winner before Hinault, Richard Virenque, Jean-Christophe Péraud and Romain Bardet were even entitled to the “crown” of Dauphin, but France, a major actress of ancient and even more recent times must be content Ranking of the most successful nations: 36.

Right after Hinault (he retired in 1986), Jeff Bernard (who will follow the first steps of Lenny closely, his … grandson) was “betrayed on puncture” in the Vercors. In 1996, the specialized newspapers had toured a duel between Miguel Induraine Quintuple winner outgoing and Laurent Jalabert, dazzling on the previous Vuelta. The Navarrais plunged very late home in Pampelona, ​​the Mazamétain collapsed very early on like an anonymous from Turin. Two years later, second behind Ullrich the previous summer, Virenque really believed in it. At the heart of the Festina case, he was put out of race in Corrèze…

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VIDEO. Tour de France: “Many were a lead!” When the runners voluntarily sank in the name of performance

Behind the great animators, Voeckler and Alaphilippe, Péraud, Bardet and Pinot were allowed to dream in large but there was always someone in front. And then Pogacar and Vingegaard arrived…

Barely out of the juniors, Paul Seixas does wonders. We already complain about all the expectations that will grow around him, frustrations stacked over the summer he will have to wear on his shoulders. Peas, stages, fighting spirit, a sprint that knows …

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VIDEO. Tour de France: “We take advantage of every moment …” Greg Lemond struck by cancer, his wife gives news

This is what we can really wait within three weeks that happen. Obviously, if by a competition of circumstances, an extraordinary breakaway (we will go back to Pontarlier!), A fairly unlikely flight of crickets who came to devour the two monsters and some of their opponents, the Marseillaise had to resound by descendant from Montmartre, the surprise would do a lot of our compatriots but will not give birth to false joys. This scenario is not provided for by the strategists of UAE …