Paul Seixas: Tour de France Winner 2031

[Berniece]

Pidcock is injured.

And Evenepoel is not riding it

 

[Lequack]

Just like he wasn't riding Flanders.

 

[Earns1985]

Macron wants, that Seixas stays at Decathlon and wants to support this process.

 

[Berniece]

Macron wants, that Seixas stays at Decathlon and wants to support this process.

That's another level of nationalism. Can't imagine De Wever pushing Soudal Quickstep to have kept Evenepoel

 

[Brullnux]

That's another level of nationalism. Can't imagine De Wever pushing Soudal Quickstep to have kept Evenepoel

Tbf Belgium have had about a million high level cyclists since France's last actual GC contender

 

[BahamontesPhantom]

When did the French last have a truly great mainstream sportsman? Thierry Henry?

 

[Brullnux]

When did the French last have a truly great mainstream sportsman? Thierry Henry?

You might have missed them winning the world cup with a certain Mbappe in 2018, or Marchand winning four gold medals in a home Olympics.

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

When did the French last have a truly great mainstream sportsman? Thierry Henry?

Marchand (French) was the Olympic star in Paris 2024 and France achieved a record of Olympic medals in those Olympics.
It has a certain parallel with Mo Farah (London 2012 local star) and Sky/Froome.

 

[YavorD]

When did the French last have a truly great mainstream sportsman? Thierry Henry?

Cycling isn't mainstream though. It's fairly niche globally.

Okay, maybe not in France and Belgium, but yeah..

 

[Brullnux]

Cycling isn't mainstream though. It's fairly niche globally.

Okay, maybe not in France and Belgium, but yeah..

Cycling in general isn't, but the Tour de France is.

I would also say Dupont has a claim. He's been the best rugby player in the world for the last five years (granted, a niche sport).

 

[BahamontesPhantom]

Cycling isn't mainstream though. It's fairly niche globally.

Okay, maybe not in France and Belgium, but yeah..

Yes true, I would called it niche too
The best French sportsman I can see of recent years is a Judo guy, I suppose that’s what I meant by ‘mainstream’ cycling is maybe a grey area of niche and mainstream

 

[BahamontesPhantom]

You might have missed them winning the world cup with a certain Mbappe in 2018, or Marchand winning four gold medals in a home Olympics.

I didn’t miss Mbappe, he’s maybe arguable as a true great.
He’s not even the best striker in the world though, an old and slow Harry Kane is better and I dont know how great Harry Kane is.
Marchand fair enough but swimming I would err to calling niche even more than cycling.

 

[YavorD]

Yes true, I would called it niche too
The best French sportsman I can see of recent years is a Judo guy, I suppose that’s what I meant by ‘mainstream’ cycling is maybe a grey area of niche and mainstream

I would extend that to some winter sports, Renaud Lavillenie was great in his peak, some swimmers and of course their football team played 2 straight WC finals with Mbappe being a global star.

 

[BahamontesPhantom]

I would extend that to some winter sports, Renaud Lavillenie was great in his peak, some swimmers and of course their football team played 2 straight WC finals with Mbappe being a global star.

Maybe I’m being a bit harsh on mbappe.

 

[Brullnux]

I didn’t miss Mbappe, he’s maybe arguable as a true great.
He’s not even the best striker in the world though, an old and slow Harry Kane is better and I dont know how great Harry Kane is.
Marchand fair enough but swimming I would err to calling niche even more than cycling.

His week to week level is of course debatable, but he's a world superstar and almost dragged France to two world cup wins. Being so highly paid does show something at least (if just name recognition).

Sqimming is niche (more so than cycling) but the Olympics isn't - sort of like the Tour. Everyone knew who Phelps was, for instance, and a lot knew who Lochte (e.g.) was.

 

[rallybanana]

Swimming, Athletics and Judo are all ahead of Football in L'equipe's annual sports awards. Cycling not surprisingly is at the top. Hinault, Alain Prost, and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot are the only ones to have won 4 times. Thierry Henry has never won it.

Champion des champions de L'Équipe — Wikipédia

fr.wikipedia.org

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Swimming, Athletics and Judo are all ahead of Football in L'equipe's annual sports awards. Cycling not surprisingly is at the top. Hinault, Alain Prost, and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot are the only ones to have won 4 times. Thierry Henry has never won it.

Champion des champions de L'Équipe — Wikipédia

fr.wikipedia.org

Football is a team sport, though and these sportsman of the year awards don‘t require your sport to be the most popular out there. It‘s enough to win big and at least have it noticed in your Home country.

 

[memyselfandI]

Both men and women basketball also some top French athletes..

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Maybe I’m being a bit harsh on mbappe.

Mbappe is an amazing footballer, a world champion and on his way to become the best scorer in WC history. He's a big star.

 

[BahamontesPhantom]

Mbappe is an amazing footballer, a world champion and on his way to become the best scorer in WC history. He's a big star.

Yes maybe I was a bit harsh.
Benzema too

 

[Unchained]

I find Alizee very athletic and talented, I like her better than any other French athlete.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Cycling Forums are a team sport as well, are we not letting the Caiptain of this thread (the Messiah) a bit down by only scoring goals for other sports?