- Feb 10, 2015
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Since its introduction in 2008, the WorldTour hasn't seen any French win a stage race labeled as such.
Slovenia won eight of those events with three different riders in the last two years.
Slovenia won eight of those events with three different riders in the last two years.
- Feb 10, 2015
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The golden generation that didn't win a thing over five days of racing is out of it in the Tour.
What a surprise.
What a surprise.
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It borders on the bizarre at this point. Of all of the big French talents of recent years, the only one who over performs his apparent physical level in terms of results is Demare. Then you have Pinot, who does win quite big in between the inexplicable disasters and provides most of the best wins. He is is own unique thing, swinging wildly from tragedy to ecstasy. Other than that they all underperform their promise. All of them.
- Jan 4, 2020
- 6,327
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I don't know. This is very much about expectations. And it's about what types of riders do you develope, what are they and what do you expect from them.
Clearly, France produces great one day racers nowadays. That's the type that gets, for some reason, I don't know anything about the French youth system, to the top. Those guys have instincts, passion, they are great in the mountains and hills. They are usually not amazing time triallers. They are powerful and rather punchy, but they do not excel especially in long-term endurance. But then you expect them, because they are French, and the French are supposed to be a big cycling nation, and they have this kind of important race, and it's a three week race, and after all, any great cyclist is supposed to win a GT, so now you expect them to be winners of big stage races.
Well, I guess if you want great stage racers you have to start to scout them and to support them to become that. You will get a lot of rather "boring" riders, not your beloved attacking ones, but riders who can wait, who can time trail, who can do a three-week race almost without being recognised... and then maybe one day one of these will win your GT.
Ah and one more thing... it might help to not put them into the spotlight and under the pressure that they have to win because no Frenchman has... since 30 years... and the honour and integrity of the French nation lies on your shoulders now...
Clearly, France produces great one day racers nowadays. That's the type that gets, for some reason, I don't know anything about the French youth system, to the top. Those guys have instincts, passion, they are great in the mountains and hills. They are usually not amazing time triallers. They are powerful and rather punchy, but they do not excel especially in long-term endurance. But then you expect them, because they are French, and the French are supposed to be a big cycling nation, and they have this kind of important race, and it's a three week race, and after all, any great cyclist is supposed to win a GT, so now you expect them to be winners of big stage races.
Well, I guess if you want great stage racers you have to start to scout them and to support them to become that. You will get a lot of rather "boring" riders, not your beloved attacking ones, but riders who can wait, who can time trail, who can do a three-week race almost without being recognised... and then maybe one day one of these will win your GT.
Ah and one more thing... it might help to not put them into the spotlight and under the pressure that they have to win because no Frenchman has... since 30 years... and the honour and integrity of the French nation lies on your shoulders now...
amazingly i managed to forget his existence lol. Obviously he’s the most prominent of the three who actually win stuff.
but thinking about it, he isn’t yet an overachiever. His expectations are sky high as he is the guy who has succeeded Valverde as worlds best puncheur, but he only has a single monument. Of course he’s hardly a conspicuous underachiever at this point either.
- Jun 7, 2011
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I think the fact that it's always "all about the Tour" has a lot to do with it. They usually don't go to the Giro or Vuelta. And they don't want to go too deep in 1 week stage races, because they don't want to cook themselves or hit form too soon with the Tour in mind. Like they've been setting themselves up for this. Pinot's track record is "ok", he's done 13 GT's, of which 8 Tours. But Bardet has only ever done one Vuelta, and no Giro.
Bardet could be an interesting prospect for the Vuelta this year if the concussion is ok and the team fancy it.
The form looked good with less pressure and expectations on him.
The form looked good with less pressure and expectations on him.
- Mar 11, 2009
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- Jun 7, 2011
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They would probably have come a lot closer to winning the Tour, had they built up some experience riding/winning smaller races for the actual victory. Be it Pais Vasco, Dauphiné, Suisse or Vuelta...
- May 17, 2013
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Well, that's pretty much what Pinot did, and he got close last year.
The ITT thing has been pretty bad for decades, with one exception for GT contenders, Pinot '16. At the expense of his punch. Something may be due to the system, I don't know. Having multiple small and medium budget teams doesn't help. Not one big team that can make even a Wiggo win a Tour. That seems to be the modern recipe for GB and now NL.
Well, no Tour win in '20.
- Feb 20, 2010
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A true tragedy that this will no longer be our enduring image of a French (men's elite road) world champion...
- Jan 4, 2020
- 6,327
- 7,737
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A true tragedy that this will no longer be our enduring image of a French (men's elite road) world champion...
Oh my god... how will I be able to sleep tonight?
- Nov 16, 2013
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A true tragedy that this will no longer be our enduring image of a French (men's elite road) world champion...
Normally, you would say that the rider in question would have a few months to salvage his haircut after having won the Worlds but seeing as Alaphilippe will already be prominently featuring this Wednesday, the tragedy is not avoidable.
- May 5, 2010
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- May 25, 2018
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- Feb 20, 2010
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I'd say it was the style of the time, but realistically Laurent Brochard is a man for all times.
- Jun 7, 2010
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business in the front, party in the back
- Jun 7, 2010
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Ah, the days when the French drought was unthinkable due to that cascading waterfall coming down the back of that man's head. I - I had no idea. Thank you.A true tragedy that this will no longer be our enduring image of a French (men's elite road) world champion...
- Sep 2, 2011
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