Final stand of Romain Bardet
Being Adored by the Crowd: Romain Bardet's Final Ride
Romain Bardet, a celebrated cycling legend, savors the affection of his fans as he bids adieu to his professional career. The French native chose a beloved race that graces his daily training terrains for his farewell performance. "I haven't been here since 2020 for various reasons. But it's my home race, and I wanted to say goodbye here," he told French media before the start.
Bardet reveled in the crowd's adoration during the second stage. He attempted a breakaway 20 kilometers before the finish on the Côte de Nonette, where he's been training for the last 25 years, but his fellow cyclists weren't as sympathetic. The sprint teams swiftly chased him down, and fellow racer Jonathan Milan took the win.
Undeterred, Bardet found great cheers at the start of the third stage in his hometown of Brioude the following day.
Past Glory vs Present Reality
Bardet's decision to retire mid-season is partly due to the reality that he no longer anticipates remarkable achievements. "I didn't want to finish the Tour de France with a performance in no-man's-land," he clarified. "Because honestly, I no longer have a realistic chance of success there," he assessed.
Hence, 2025 was designated as a half-season, and motivation stemmed from another attempt at the Giro d'Italia. Although he didn't aim for the Grand Tour's overall victory, Bardet longed for at least one stage win. The goal was to secure the small Grand Tour triple: stage wins at all three major tours. Unfortunately, this elusive prize eluded him. His closest chance was on the 17th stage to Bormio, where he spent over 100 kilometers in the day's breakaway group, only to be caught by the race leader, Isaac Del Toro, a symbol of a generational shift.
Heavy Expectations, Scant Satisfaction
Bardet, who climbed exceptionally fast and enduringly throughout his career, rarely lived up to the high expectations of his fellow countrymen. Despite successes such as the polka-dot jersey of the Tour 2019 and a podium place in Paris 2016, Bardet failed to end the French drought since the last Tour victory in 1985. His greatest satisfaction came from the stage win at the Tour de France 2024, which also brought him the highly anticipated, long-awaited, and never-before-worn yellow jersey.
The Dauphine's Finale
In the Dauphine, Bardet harbors little expectation for himself. "The Giro is still in my bones," he admitted, already embracing his potential future role as a commentator and analyst. "It's nice that all the Tour de France favorites are here. There's no need to worry about Pogacar's form. It's more important for Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard, who have fewer races in their legs. Both want to see if they can match Pogacar's level," he said. Despite his relinquished expectations, Bardet believes Pogacar will dominate the race in the long mountains.
[1] Has achieved four stage wins in the Tour de France[2] Competitor in the Critérium du Dauphiné[3] Former member of AG2R La Mondiale and now with DSM (Picnic Post-NL)[4] 2015 winner of the Critérium du Dauphiné at Pra-Loup
In the midst of his final ride at the Dauphine, Romain Bardet found time to reflect on his illustrious career, filled with four stage wins in the Tour de France and past performances in the Critérium du Dauphiné.
Reminiscing on the joy of competing in sports, he looked forward to the race, knowing that Tadej Pogacar would likely dominate the long mountains, while Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard were searching to match his form. Despite his relinquished expectations, Romain Bardet still held excitement for the race, embodying the spirit of sportsmanship as he bid farewell to his competitor days.
