Unless a relentless metronome to Miguel Indurain or Chris Froome, the Tour de France remains a formidable emotional lift. A life one lives there in three weeks. Endless suffering and lasting for a few moments of fleeting happiness. But when these moments arrive, they forget everything else and understand why these sufferings are worth to be endured. Romain Bardet borrowed those rollercoaster for two and a half weeks.
In eight days, he went from this:
At this:
Romain Bardet (AG2R) at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – AFP
The victory of Romain Bardet in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne Thursday, a day after a “ big hypoglycemia “, it is obviously that of a sacred talent. That he had already shown. But it is also the success of a true champion of great character, able to overcome his frustrations, and reconsider his ambitions when those of departure have evaporated. That’s what made her so proud of all members of the AG2R La Mondiale team. “ He deserves it, it’s a nasty , says Christophe Riblon almost as happy after his victory at the Alpe d’Huez two years ago. He was very disappointed after his Pyrenees. But it has character, it’s really a good . ”
What Vincent Lavenu, in its way, summarize a nice formula: “he championed today (note: Thursday). ” The manager of AG2R, happy and “ proud of its leader, proud of the team “, as it insists on the mental effort produced by Bardet in this Tour, apart, of course, physical performance day. “ This is a great champion, confirmed Riblon . It does not let anything. He has a big heart .”
Quickly, Bardet had to mourn his dreams of grandeur in general, losing half an hour in the first two stages of the Pyrenees. “ I had lost a lot of ambition in general, it’s hard when you come to play a place in the top five “, admits the person concerned. Then he does violence to try to go for a stage win.
Tour de France Finish – 18 internship – Eurosport
Third Plateau de Beille in Mende then, he has had the continuity of ideas. “ I had really wanted him to win the Plateau de Beille, I had given everything to it ” recalls teammate Mikael Chérel that Thursday morning scented the beautiful story: “ Romain was very committed to the idea of fight for the stage win. For sure every morning , we are motivated to win the stage. But this morning I felt there was a little something more . ”
For cycling, it is not enough to have the legs and heart. The head, that helps too. So at AG2R, the blow had been carefully prepared. Hence the deep satisfaction Lavenu and his men, both personal success of Romain Bardet doubles as a collective work. “ The scheme was fully respected , savoring the boss. Everything went super well, well done to the guys. This is really an easy team manager, we share a lot of happiness together . ” “ I’ve been very lucky to have my friend Christophe Riblon in the break, with as Jan Bakelants “, do not forget also to specify Bardet.
Nevertheless. Once launched Glandon, the child of Brioude found himself all alone as a great. There, it was to him to play. “ We knew that if he was in a good position at the foot of the Glandon, he would have a chance. After, there were big customers in the break, it was not. But he attacked far It held, this is a great victory “, still testifies Lavenu.
Tour de France ITW: Riblon – Eurosport
“He character, it shares a lot, and he also listens “
“ I knew that with my talents chute, I could make the difference, continues Bardet. I knew the route, he had been recognized during an internship in the spring. But it was very long in the last kilometers . ” Fortunately, he was carried away by the crowd, one that is sublime and (almost) forget the fatigue. “ On the top of the laces Montvernier , tells the hero of the day, it was a stage. The echo reverberated encouragement they gave me goosebumps . ”
And this is how Romain Bardet transformed a poorly embedded in Tower unforgettable. It is also the strength of the great, or future ones, than advance when everything does not go as well as hoped. “ I’m still learning “, he humbly admits. Luckily, according to the big brother Riblon, comfortable in the role of the wise old man, also in this exercise, Bardet is gifted: “ he has a big heart, it has character, it shared widely, and listens well. He learns much from his mistakes “. And quickly, too, obviously.
Thursday, it had to be good at AG2R. It has not always been festive evening in July. So they relish. “ These are moments that pass quickly, we try to appreciate them, resumes Romain Bardet . It’s a lot of suffering, a lot of sacrifices but when we come to realize, it really is fabulous . “ Friday, it will start the fight. And suffer, no doubt, again. The price of happiness again and again.
Romain Bardet at the 18th stage of the Tour in 2015 – AFP
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