Tracking the French drought

[rallybanana]

The aim of this thread is to provide a documentary reference of top races and their last French winner:

Gent-Wevelgem: Philippe Gaumont (1997)
Paris-Roubaix: Frédéric Guesdon (1997)
La Flèche Wallonne: Laurent Jalabert (1997)
World Road Race Championship: Laurent Brochard (1997)
Giro di Lombardia: Laurent Jalabert (1997)

When this thread was opened, five one-day races last had a French winner in 1997.
Now just Paris-Roubaix remains

 

[RedheadDane]

When this thread was opened, five one-day races last had a French winner in 1997.

And three of those races were won by someone named Laurent.

 

[Netserk]

Slovenia keep crossing out races left on the list.

 

[Netserk]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1919035832368865721

View: https://x.com/faustocoppi60/status/1919035832368865721

 

[SafeBet]

WT stage race, that is.

 

[Potomac]

18 years without WT GC win. That really is shocking. I think they have had riders good enough to win a week long stage race. If it was only no GT overalls, that would merely be surprising.

 

[Lorzenz08]

18 years without WT GC win. That really is shocking. I think they have had riders good enough to win a week long stage race. If it was only no GT overalls, that would merely be surprising.

True I cant believe Bardet or Pinot have never won any WT stage race

 

[RedheadDane]

True I cant believe Bardet or Pinot have never won any WT stage race

It is.
Pinot came quite close in Dauphine 2020, but then... well...



And to add insult to injury - or more insult to the insult? - about the whole thing:

Alaphilippe won California in 2016... the year before it became a WT race.
Sivakov won Pologne in 2019... when he was still Russian.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Forty years this July for the tour, Pauline knocked Paris Roubaix of the list this year, she's a definite possible for the womens tour.
Not inconceivable that forty beomes fifty for the men.

 

[tobydawq]

With the developments on stage 1, there is a chance that either Vauquelin or Grégoire could become the first Frenchman to win a WT stage race in ....









... 18 YEARS!

 

[RedheadDane]

With the developments on stage 1, there is a chance that either Vauquelin or Grégoire could become the first Frenchman to win a WT stage race in ....









... 18 YEARS!

Almeida saw this post and thought:
"We'll see about that!"

 

[shalgo]

Almeida saw this post and thought:
"We'll see about that!"

French podium sweep based on today's GC!

 

[Tim Cahill]

Vauquelin and Grégoire last seen bickering back and forth as to who should pull as Almeida extends the gap, comical scenes, perhaps a microcosm.

 

[tobydawq]

Almeida saw this post and thought:
"We'll see about that!"

I think he just tries to win the race, that post notwithstanding.

 

[rallybanana]

Slovenia keep crossing out races left on the list.

The population of Slovenia is approximately equal to the population of the 20 arrondissements of Paris. Maybe Paris and Slovenia should have a population exchange.

 

[Wyndbrook]

The population of Slovenia is approximately equal to the population of the 20 arrondissements of Paris. Maybe Paris and Slovenia should have a population exchange.

Only problem is Pog lives in Monaco.

 

[Potomac]

The population of Slovenia is approximately equal to the population of the 20 arrondissements of Paris. Maybe Paris and Slovenia should have a population exchange.

Slovenia has produced one rider that won a TdF.
France has produced 21 riders.

That being said I do love a map of paris that shows the arondissements.

 

[RedheadDane]

Slovenia has produced one rider that won a TdF.
France has produced 21 riders.

France's last was 40 years ago.

 

[Potomac]

France's last was 40 years ago.

Yes, but on average France is producing a TdF winner every 6 years. Slovenia producing one every 120 years. You're confusing weather with climate.

 

[rallybanana]

France has never won a WT stage race. Slovenia has 4 different riders who have each won at least 2 different WT stage races.

 

[BigCoward]

Yes, but on average France is producing a TdF winner every 6 years. Slovenia producing one every 120 years. You're confusing weather with climate.

France has 30 X the population but just over 5 X the number of grand tour wins.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Tony Gallopin had 36 seconds over Richie Porte before the last stage (ITT) of 2015 Paris-Nice.
Thibaut Pinot had 34 seconds over Geraint Thomas and 47 seconds over Simon Spilak before the last stage (ITT) of 2015 Tour de Suisse.

What could go wrong?

 

[rallybanana]

What could go wrong?

The world resets to 2015?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Kevin is a mere 2 or 3 Almeida mishaps away from shocking the world

 

[RedheadDane]

Yes, but on average France is producing a TdF winner every 6 years. Slovenia producing one every 120 years. You're confusing weather with climate.

When I'm about to head to work, I'm more concerned about the weather than the climate.
Somehow, I think Slovenia feels happier about their current TdF situation than France does.