Bernard Hinault brazenly discredits his successors in the cycling world
In the world of professional cycling, the Tour de France continues to captivate audiences across the globe. However, one significant gap remains unfillled: the absence of a French winner since 1985, a drought that has lasted an impressive 40 years. Bernard Hinault, a five-time champion (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985), remains the most recent French cyclist to claim victory in the prestigious race.
Hinault, now a retired cyclist, has expressed his concerns about France's short-term chances of producing another Tour de France winner. In a candid interview, he stated that French riders have not been able to compete seriously for the overall victory since his last win, citing a lack of riders capable of fighting for the Tour title and criticising the home riders' performances and mindset in recent decades.
The reasons for this prolonged drought are multifaceted. One of the key challenges is the talent gap. France has not cultivated a cyclist able to dominate or even seriously contend for the Tour de France in recent years. The global field in professional cycling has become more competitive, with strong contenders from countries like Spain, Belgium, Slovenia, and others.
Moreover, the weight of national expectations may be a psychological challenge for French riders, possibly limiting breakthrough performances. Additionally, there may be issues in the French cycling development ecosystem that have prevented the nurturing of elite Tour contenders.
Despite the lack of French winners, the Tour de France remains commercially successful and popular in France, indicating that the absence of a home champion has not significantly impacted the event's business or fan engagement.
In the current Tour de France, Kevin Vauquelin is the only French rider bringing some joy to the home fans, currently high in the general classification. However, he has little chance of winning. Unfortunately, Bryan Coquard, who was hoping to bring joy to French fans, has caused a crash involving sprint king Jasper Philipsen, resulting in Philipsen's departure from the race with broken bones.
Bernard Hinault, a French cycling legend, finds it hard to accept that France has long since taken on a minor sporting role in the Tour de France. He recently expressed his disappointment about the lack of great French champions who can win the Tour, calling it an anomaly in the history of the sport.
Julian Alaphilippe, the biggest name in the peloton among the French riders, is gradually coming to the end of his career. His career was never focused on road racing, leading to fading memories of old heroes like Hinault, Anquetil, Laurent Fignon, or Louis Bobet. Thomas Voeckler, the national coach, acknowledges that France is no longer the best in sprinting.
As the Tour de France continues its journey, the hope remains that a new French champion will rise to claim victory and end the 40-year drought. Until then, the race will continue to captivate audiences across the globe, with the French fans eagerly waiting for their next champion.
Other sports, such as cycling, are still competing for the attention of French audiences, with the Tour de France maintaining its popularity despite the prolonged absence of a French winner since 1985. Bernard Hinault, a former five-time Tour de France champion, laments this trend and expresses his hope that a new generation of riders will emerge to challenge the dominance of countries like Spain, Belgium, Slovenia, and others in the world of professional cycling.
