Second day of rest on the Tour de Franceand one thing is certain: Cyrille Guimard has not lost its verve! After fifteen intense steps between Lille and the Pyrenees, the “Druid” took out the magnifying glass to analyze this Large loop that he knows as anyone. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) untouchable unless accident, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | lease a bike) resigned, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) Out of the blow, the French still empty-handed despite a Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B & B Hotels) more ambitious than ever … without forgetting the controversies, economic issues and the future of world cycling, Puller book for Cyclism’Actu A filter -free debrief, between rants, tactical lucidity and well -felt small spikes. To be enjoyed without moderation!
“I hope a tricolor miracle …”
“Yes, the Tour de France is folded …”
Hello Cyrille Guimard, we find you during this second day of rest of the Tour de France, after 15 stages. We are going straight to the point: is the turn folded?
Yes. And then we will take out the usual sentence … You know, it's like when we talk about vineyards, vineyards, grapes, a bottle of wine: you always have to add “to consume in moderation”. So in cycling, we also have our formula: “Yes … except accident.” Because the gaps are such as only an accident in Pogacar, or a failure that has never been seen before, could revive the suspense. And when I say failure, I speak in the strict sense: you are not sick, but you have a big break of legs. If Pogacar has no accident, if he does not fall ill, yes, the general classification is folded. And everyone knows. The proof: when you read the press, one no longer wonders if there is a sporting issue. Instead, we are trying to set up a small controversial scenario between runners, between teams … It is logical, especially in a last week of turn.
Precisely, let's talk about these “controversies”. Does Pogacar earn too much? And this 15th stage: Visma which does not wait for Vingegaard and continues to attack. Van Aert said at a press conference: “If Tadej had just got up to return to the peloton where Jonas was, he could have shown a real fair play”. It is a bit like the day that make people speak, right?
Exactly. But sportingly, at the level of the general, there is nothing to say. Vingegaard is caught in the fall, do not panic, he returns quietly without giving a pedal stroke. There were too many runners in the back so that there is a real fight. And anyway, an offensive so far from the arrival to eliminate who? Person. There has been common sense, and it is revealing: when you see that Vingegaard is behind, and his teammates do not want to miss the right blow in front, that means something. It means that the general is no longer their priority. The podium, yes. But not the final victory. Today, Visma is targeting stage victories. You have to know how to read between the lines.
So for you, they did not wait until not waiting for Vingegaard?
Of course ! Why would you slow down runners to wait for Vingegaard, when he was going to come back alone? It makes no sense.
“Evenepoel had not been in it since the start”
Another event: Remco Evenepoel, which was announced as the “third man”, abandoned after two bad days. No official explanation. What is your opinion?
It is difficult to have specific information, but for me, Evenepoel had not been in it since the start. From the first border, he was in the second group, unable to plug the hole. He wins the time thanks to his roller qualities, but on such a journey, he should have put much more than a few seconds in Pogacar. He was in trouble all the time. And the facts are there: in four years, he spent almost a year in the hospital. Remember his fall in Lombardy's turn, six months without bicycle. Last year, he still fell, like Vingegaard elsewhere. And I said, I think here on Cyclism’Actuthat Pogacar had won against two guys in a wheelchair. It was an image, of course, but the two returned from afar. Even this year, Evenepoel was still arrested two months after trying to spend a truck door from La Poste… It cannot be 100 %. It is not me who says it, it is physiology. His abandonment is logical. And then, mentally, it cracks too. He might have targeted 3rd place, but even that was not guaranteed. Lipowitz is very strong. Onley too. And we have a Frenchman, Kevin Vauquelin, who just awaits the opening.
Precisely, let's talk about hierarchy. Did you expect such a gap between Pogacar and Vingegaard?
Given what we have seen since the start of the year, yes. Vingegaard is not at the level. Pogacar is at its top. He lives his physical peak, everything goes well, he has a solid team, which does not make mistakes. And he runs in defense. He protects his teammates, requires them little effort. The tempo they impose is already too fast for many. If Pogacar continues like that, he is untouchable. The differences will even swell, logically.
I remind you that Pogacar and Vingegaard, by them, is (soon) six towers of France won and four seats of 2nd. These are the two best for six years. So, no need to invent stories or controversies: they are the ones who dominate. Roglic played a time, but he lost part of his potential. You would need new young people, like Del Toro, who pleases me. He is in the Pogacar team, but things evolve quickly in a team. And beware: Pogacar will have to keep the same motivation. Look at Hinault, after five laps won, he was deconcentrated, and the sixth was no longer possible. Power uses …
“At the pedal, which French can win?”
A word on the French. Still no stage victory in 15 days. Do you believe it for the third week?
We cross our fingers, yes. The Belgians already have five, and they have lost Philipsen and Evenepoel! It's anecdotal, but hey … Today, Martinez can target a victory if he takes the right blow and remains calm. He always targets the mountain jersey, but it will be hard. To the pedal? Who can win? Vauquelin is too well ranked to have freedom. He, his goal is the podium. There were four for this 3rd place, there are still three of them.
Do you believe in Vauquelin on the podium?
Yes. It is possible. There is Lipowitz, Onley, Vauquelin, and we can add Roglic and Gall. In the Pyrenees, Vauquelin was a little below Lipowitz, and slightly behind onley, but the differences are weak: 2'30 ”on Lipowitz, a big minute on onley. The podium is playable. He must believe it, run just, avoid taking the wind unnecessarily. We believe in it. Otherwise, who will believe it?
“I hope a tricolor miracle with Vauquelin. We believe it”
Apart from the Tour, the big news of the day: the arrival of CMA CGM alongside Decathlon, to replace AG2R La Mondiale. What is your opinion?
Any big budget increase is good news. It allows you to engage stronger runners. Apparently, it is signed today in Marseille, so the discussions started at least six months ago. Some high -level runners have already signed, even if it is not yet official. Does 40 million are enough? Not sure. In France, it is not equivalent to 40 million in the Gulf countries or elsewhere. Social, tax charges … it changes everything. But let's rejoice! While other teams stop, Decathlon is strengthening.
That said, the current cycling economic system is obsolete. You have to see it again. A closed league is planned. ASO is not favorable. The UCI has little margin. European law, especially with what happened on the super League in football, prevents blocking competition. The threats of David Lappartient have no legal value. You can set up a cycling circuit without going through the federations. It means that powers will move. Will the UCI still have the power it has today? We will see. But it will take more transparency on this project.
What are you expecting from this 3rd week and what podium in Paris?
What I would like is a real French revolt this last week. Do they have the means? This is another question. My podium? Pogacar, Vingegaard, Lipowitz. But I hope a tricolor miracle with Vauquelin. We believe it!
