In the heart of the Mûr-de-Bretagne volcano, the Alpe-d'Huez de l'Ouest

“The Tour de France is going in front of my house today, but I don't care! I prefer to be here, in Mûr-de-Bretagne. Too bad if the beers are hot!”smiles Valentin, 29 years old. Sitting behind a barrier close to the finish line of the 7th stage of the Tour, Friday July 11, the Breton did not hesitate a second: “Mûr, this is the mythical arrival of the West. I dream of seeing a Breton win, even if I don't believe it too much. In any case, we wanted to be there, even if we would have been quieter in front of the house. “

Arrived at 9:30 am at the top of this raidard from 2km to 7% On average (with 15%passages), Valentin and his friends were far from being the first on the scene, for the 7th stage of the Tour between Saint-Malo and Mûr-de-Bretagne won by Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates XRG), new yellow jersey. Even on Friday, Brittany stopped living to welcome the big loop as it should be. “As always, it will still be a memorable day. The Ch'tis and the Normans have been good from the start, but we will show them what the party is that the partythus promised Loïc, from Saint-Méen-le-Grand. The stage of tomorrow starts from our home, but we could not come to Mûr-de-Bretagne. It's unmissable. “

Appearing on the Tour for the first time fourteen years ago, the Côte de Mûr-de-Bretagne quickly became a high place of the race, both for its atmosphere and for the sporting show it offers. Arkea-B & B hotel jersey on the back, Grégoire, who came from Dinan, was there for the first arrival in 2011, but does not remember it. “Normal, he was in the stroller!”smiles by his side his father Jean-Luc, “The last time, in 2021, we were in the hardest part but the atmosphere is too strong there. We prefer to be quiet on the line, with the giant screens to follow the race. One day, I hope to see my son roll here. He finished third at the Brittany championships!”

From noon, they are already thousands of storm of the terrible straight line above Guerlédan, before a long wait under a blazing sun. “I put myself on the harshest portions to see them pass as little as quickly as possible, even if it will take off anyway”is thus impatient Esteban, 29 -year -old Guingampais, who confesses to having no idea what is going on on the race, “We will see when they arrive, in the meantime it is the party. We welcome people from all the globe in the heart of Brittany.”

Wales, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, United States, Argentina: standards around the world float in the wind, without competing the Breton flag, omnipresent along the terrible wall. Under his Norwegian flag, Magnus, who came from Oslo, smiles: “It changes my house in the middle of the forest! From the start in Lille, it's huge. But today, the atmosphere is exceptional. I couldn't dream better before taking the plane tomorrow. Even in Norway, we know that the Bretons love the bicycle, that's why I wanted to come here to finish.”

Others are slightly less well received. “We just got on foot, we were applauded all along, and whistled by a few Rennes”smiles Jacques, supporter of FC Nantes surrounded by friends also in the colors of the Canaries, great rivals of Stade Rennais Local. “We rediscover the joys of a climb, we who are rather used to the descent into football. It feels good to change sports”, he laughs. To tell the truth, it was the knitting of the Brest stadium that won this unofficial battle.

Surrounded by two cardboard reproductions by Julian Alaphilippe and Remco Evenepoel, Rémi, who came from Binche, is one of the rare Belgians present, two years after the festive invasion of our neighbors on this same coast: “We planned our holidays in Vendée to be able to come here today, before returning to Belgium, rather than going from Lille. Brittany, it looks a lot like Belgium because the Bretons are crazy about bikes like us”. Under a blazing sun, the caravanners make it wait as they can crowd, very dense more than four hours before the arrival of the peloton.

“In 140 terminals, they are there, hurry up!”teases a father. His Son sneezes, a man answers him “To your wishes “ On the other side of the road. A passerby, pointing to his cooler in the sun, calls out to him: “They will be hot your beers”. All embalmed by a perfume that mixes exhaust gas, toasted sausages and perspiration. “”It's already the Alps“Summarizes a Swiss spectator, filming two strangers who challenge the tandem wall.

While each shadow corner is dearly defended, the passage of the caravan still makes the temperature rise a little more. In the red flame, the last goodies are barely collected than the appearance of helicopters in the distance triggers a deaf clamor. The crowd understood: this time, the peloton arrives for its first visit to Mûr-de-Bretagne. Local of the stage, Ewen Costiou (Arkea-B & B Hotels) makes the Breton public roar by attacking during the first pass.

The joy is short -lived, the favorites not being far away. But, spoiled by this casting XXL, Mûr-de-Bretagne en fury attends the new Tadej Pogacar tour de force. Because if the most beautiful bump in Brittany has become legendary in fourteen years, it is, certainly, for its unique atmosphere, but also for its prestigious record (Cadel Evans, Alexis Vuillermoz, Dan Martin, Mathieu Van der Poel), to which has just added the name of the world champion. A winner at the height of the fervor of the west Huez Alpe.