In Denis' wheel, the most famous mustache in the caravan

At 66, Denis is one of the stars of the caravan, in which he has been participating for twelve years, and which rushes to Albertville on Friday.

On the large loop, not all stars hold a handlebar in their hands. At 66, Denis moves on foot, pushing a 2CV cut in half, every day, on the starting and arrival lines. To judge by the number of kisses and tightening of daily hands, the Savoyard is one of the stars of the Tour de France. Caravanier for a famous brand of sausages, the most famous mustache of the Tour has been traveling the roads of France every summer for twelve years. “The mustache is personal, but it helped have the contract!”smiles Denis.

“My role is to have the products taste, to cut the slices as it should. I like contact with the public and the energy around the race”explains the one who was a pastry chef and a bar manager in another life. “”I was also a departmental agent at home, in Savoy. In winter, I watched the roads. In summer, I was preparing them for the passage of the Tour de France “smiles the one who sees the 19th step starting from his dear city of Albertville. “I am Savoyard and proud of being, so red and white are my colors! Vichy suits me very well“, He jokes, showing the shirt of the brand he represents.

At 66, and despite his 12 Tour de France on the clock, the retiree never got tired of his life as a caravan. “”I like contact with people, the discovery of landscapes, the organization of the tour, with this goldsmith work every day in a different city. It's breathtaking “he enthuses, before clarifying: “I am surrounded by young people, it maintains! After our arteries remember us. But I will not say how many sausages I eat on the Tour, so as not to have a problem with my Toubib and my partner! I eat a slice here and there. I'm here to offer it, not to eat it.”

Behind his cart of more than a hundred kilos, Denis delivers the secret of his longevity: “What made me want to do the Tour de France is my passion for the motorcycle. I chair a motorcycle that has organized a big charity event for 34 years on Albertville, so I know what it is to get involved. And, above all; I have several amateur cycling races on a motorcycle for several years”. For a long time, Denis dreamed of getting on his bike in the peloton wheel.

“As a biker, the goal was to officer on the Tour de France, to supervise it since I have a lot of amateur experience. I would have been content with the caravan, because I did not pretend to surround the peloton.”

Denis, Caravanier for 12 years

In Franceinfo: Sport

But the opportunity was never presented, then, on the advice of a biker friend, Denis swapped his motorcycle for a 2cv pig. “Too bad for the motorcycle, our 2CV makes the same noise as the motorcycle. Even if it rolls the strength of the legs. These are original wheels and headlights, otherwise it is a copy. We did not cut a 2CV in half! At least, we have no mechanical problem. This one never holds.”

A choice that allowed him, among other things, to cut the fat with Raymond Poulidor and Bernard Thévenet, two heroes of his youth. “It's always a treat to share this kind of moments”savor the one who, today, nevertheless almost at no arrival, like all caravanners: “At best, we see it on TV at the hotel, but rarely on the line, because we must often evacuate the premises before”. Like all Tour stars, Denis is sometimes elusive.