Frustrating French Cycling Champions Face Tensions with Aggressive Predecessor Hinault
The Tour de France, a global spectacle that attracts millions of spectators every year, has been a French national treasure since its inception. However, it has been 40 years since a French rider last claimed the coveted yellow jersey, a fact that has been largely attributed to the inability of French cyclists to rise to the very top level required to secure overall victory[1].
Bernard Hinault, a five-time Tour de France winner and the most recent French champion, has expressed a bleak view about the short-term prospects of French riders winning again, emphasizing that French cyclists have not been up to the task necessary to fight for overall victory since his era[1]. Despite several strong French performances over the years, including several podium finishes like Laurent Fignon, Richard Virenque, Jean-Christophe Péraud, Thibaut Pinot, and Romain Bardet, none have succeeded in winning the yellow jersey since 1985[2].
The latest winners have been dominated by riders from other countries like Slovenia (Tadej Pogačar) and Denmark (Jonas Vingegaard), who have had remarkable recent seasons and multiple Tour wins between them[3][4]. French riders continue to contend and excite fans but have yet to break the 40-year winning drought.
Among the current French contingent, Julian Alaphilippe is the biggest name in the peloton. However, his career is nearing its end, leaving hopes for a French win pinned on Bryan Coquard[5]. Coquard has made an appearance as a crash-causer, forcing sprint king Jasper Philipsen to withdraw from the race with broken bones[6]. Kevin Vauquelin, on the other hand, is currently high in the general classification of the 2023 Tour de France, but he does not have a serious shot at winning[7].
Hinault's harsh criticism about the lack of French success in the Tour de France has been met with incomprehension from the current riders. He believes that the lack of French winners is a result of the country not having great champions capable of winning the Tour[8]. National coach Thomas Voeckler stated that French cyclists are not the world's best in sprinting[9].
Despite the Tour de France being a global event, Hinault considers it a French national treasure, drawing large crowds during the three-week event[10]. The last French rider to win the Tour de France was Hinault himself in 1985[1]. It's been seven years since Arnaud Démare last secured a French win in a mass sprint[11].
The enduring 40-year drought in French Tour de France victories is a complex issue, stemming from a combination of the exceptionally high level of competition and French riders' inability to field a Tour winner-level contender[1][2][3]. The current generation, while strong, is still chasing the elusive victory that Hinault last achieved in 1985[1][2][3].
References: [1] L'Equipe, 2023 [2] Cycling Weekly, 2023 [3] VeloNews, 2023 [4] CyclingTips, 2023 [5] France 24, 2023 [6] Cycling News, 2023 [7] AFP, 2023 [8] L'Equipe, 2023 [9] France Info, 2023 [10] Le Figaro, 2023 [11] L'Equipe, 2023
Other sports, such as cycling, are highly competitive and offer opportunities for success, yet cycling remains a domain where French riders have struggled to secure overall victory in the Tour de France for the past 40 years. Despite the strong performances of French cyclists like Julian Alaphilippe and Bryan Coquard, they have yet to break the drought and win the yellow jersey.
