Clément Pédron, Media365: published on Monday July 21, 2025 at 12:27 p.m.
On the eve of the third and last week of the Tour de France, no French has yet established itself. Is there a reason for hope for the next six steps? Nothing is less certain …
Julian Alaphilippe believed to win Sunday evening in Carcassonne but he did not know that Victor Campenaerts (TVL) and especially Tim Wellens (UAD) – the winner – had passed the finish line before him. It will therefore be necessary to wait to attend a tricolor victory on the roads of the Tour de France. The boredom is that one week before the end of this large buckle edition 2025, the prospect of seeing a French runner lifting his arms is thin. The ultra domination of Tadej Pogacar in mountain stages, specialists in one day racing like Mathieu Van der Poel or the absence of a renowned French sprinter, are all factors that explain this scarcity. It has now been 27 stages of the Tour de France that we did not attend a victory at home. It is indeed necessary to go back to July 7, 2024, on the white paths, to find a trace of a success like this, at the time to put in credit of Anthony Turgis.
What about the suite?
The podium of Julian Alaphilippe (TUD) is therefore for the moment the first for a French runner in this 2025 edition during the first fifteen stages. In the last two years, on the evening of the 21st and last stage, there were four … At times, as we could see on Sunday, the French are however in number in the top 10 … Besides Alaphilippe, Laurance (Igd, 5th), Jegat (Ten, 8th) and Madouas (GFC, 10th) did not demerit in Aude. There have also been 25 tops 10 since the launch of this large 2025 loop. Proof that the tricolor runners are placed but never really in the final explanation. Same for the general classification.Exception which confirms the rule: Kevin Vauquelin. For his second big tour at home, the leader of Arkea BXB Hotels surprises with his 5th place at 10’21 ” in Pogacar in the general classification on the evening of the 15th stage. We can also note the beautiful 11th place also to the general of Jordan Jegat (Ten) … Wearer of the polka dot jersey, Lenny Martinez (TBV) is distinguished as he can but could have trouble keeping it. With six steps to be played, including four with an atypical profile, the hope of seeing a Frenchman lift his arms is thin. This Wednesday, the 17th stage between Bollène and Pontarlier could be suitable for a French adventurer if he manages to spend the bumps while the last day should crowd a sprinter, in clear Tim Merlier or Jonathan Milan.
