The Morignacois Gérard Moneyron (6 participations in the Grande Boucle in the 70s) gave us his impressions of the 109th version of the Tour de France.
The Republican of Essonne: The 109th version of the Tour de France ended this Sunday with the historic success of Dane Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma). What did you admire throughout these three weeks of racing?
Gerard Moneyron: ” The landscapes (laughs). The landscapes of the first 4 levels we weren't used to understanding. It's nonetheless nice! The Tour de France ought to solely be organized exterior of France. Did you see the crowd in Denmark? Every time you go overseas there are folks on the aspect of the roads.
I've the impression that the French are jaded. In France, there are no folks on the aspect of the roads. If we examine to once I was racing in the 70s, there have been no motorhomes in the passes. Whereas now for those who look, you've got caravans. It offers the impression that there are folks however for those who put two-three folks per caravan, it is not very crowded in comparison with what we noticed in Denmark or whenever you go overseas . Now folks come to see the Tour de France for a celebration. Come and see the caravan… If you're taking all the spectators who are there, you will need to have solely 5% who observe the bike from January 1 to December 31.
But if I've to recollect a second that I appreciated about the race, it is the coup de jarnac of the Col du Granon. Usually one thing you want is one thing you do not count on! And I feel there are lots of race followers, to whom it appeared like in the morning that Pogacar was going to mattress and that Vingegaard was going to place him in three minutes, there would not have been lots of guys who would have believed.
I additionally appreciated the victory of Christophe Laporte throughout the nineteenth stage! Especially the means he wins. It was a bumpy end. To go and win up there, you need to have massive legs. He began the dash from afar. Usually in one thing like this you suppose the line is getting nearer rapidly nevertheless it's coming slowly.
Le Rép: Conversely, what did you dislike about the Tour?
GM: You need to cease carrying the earphones… It's so significantly better with out them, like throughout the French or world championships. Today, I've the impression that runners are like youngsters. In the atria you need to inform them “you have to pee, you have to eat, you have to turn left”… And I’m not speaking about the packing containers that help you calculate the watts. This is bullshit.
Le Rép: What do you suppose of the battle for the yellow jersey?
GM: I feel Pogacar might have stored his jersey throughout the Granon stage. When you've got one shot much less nicely on three terminals, there's some bullshit someplace. The staff might not admit it however they comprehend it! He most likely forgot to eat. When I used to be a runner, I used to be at all times instructed that in a mountain stage, you need to eat each quarter of an hour. You do not know what can occur! You know for those who do not, you will exit the window. And that is what occurred. The worst factor he had was that he had nothing left in his socks.
But truthfully aside from a failure, a fall or a mechanical drawback, you notice that between the two there's nothing. There was an incredible battle between the two. In any case, Vingegaard stays an excellent yellow jersey. At the Col du Granon, he was not afraid to assault!
Le Rép: What do you suppose of the Tour des Français?
GM: It's not the Tour des Français… But anyway you notice that in all the massive races of the yr, the French are no longer there! In a peloton you've got the superb ones, the good ones and the guys who observe. I feel we are between the superb and the good. But an excellent French runner, we do not have one! I generally surprise if Julian Alaphillippe would have had the outcomes he had in a French staff? I feel that in France now we have lots of “civil servants” in the groups. When I say civil servant, I imply “state of mind”.
If you're taking the instance of Christophe Laporte, earlier than he was with Cofidis and now that he's overseas (Jumbo-Visma) he wins a Paris-Nice stage and takes his staff's sprinters to the Tour. And he gained the solely French stage of the 2022 version. I'm undecided the others are higher, however there's a drawback. I'm not saying that the guys are unhealthy however that the state of thoughts shouldn't be good. I've the impression that in our French groups, we nag them an excessive amount of. While it is the others, it is the tradition of successful.
Le Rep: Do you suppose that Christophe Laporte's victory in the nineteenth stage saved the Tour des Français?
GM: Laporte is not only anybody. He has already gained a stage in Paris-Nice. So now has he saved the Tour des Français? I feel the French are of their place. Today, what is anticipated of the French? There are two varieties of viewers. There are those that know nothing about biking and there is just one race in the yr, the Tour de France. And those that watch the full season… I feel the Tour des Français corresponds to the stage of French biking at the second. Anyway for those who take away Jacques Anquetil, Laurent Fignon, Bernard Hinault… You notice that you simply at all times have Frenchmen who will end 4th or fifth.
But the French had been non-existent on this Tour. David Gaudu completed fourth and Romain Bardet seventh however you need to have a look at the gaps! Both end very removed from Vingegaard. If you analyze Gaudu's race, he by no means influenced the levels. He was by no means the one who shot to make a distinction. Him at the restrict, he was very comfortable to be in his place and to observe when the others set the tempo. Did he assault as soon as to problem the prime three total? Never. In reality, he adopted.
Can Gaudu win a Tour de France? He must enhance in the time trial to keep away from shedding three minutes every time. In any case, the subsequent Frenchman who will win the Tour de France, I do not know the place he's. He could also be in minims or in cadets.
Le Rép: What do you suppose of the efficiency of Essonnians Tony Gallopin (Trek-Segafredo) and Anthony Turgis (Total Energies) who completed respectively thirty seventh (at 2:25 a.m.) and 129th (at 5:20 a.m.) in the common classification?
GM: It's unlucky for Anthony. I feel on the cobbles stage or one other he might have gained one. Unfortunately he crashed early in the race. The Tour de France is silly as a result of after you have the scoumoune it is arduous. Hopefully he is not a foul luck subsequent yr. Because he had an excellent begin to the season, he was in good condition. He had room to do one thing. Regarding Tony, I do not know if he might have gained a stage as a result of he is not the Tony of 2014 however he did an excellent Tour de France. »
Interview by Jérémy Andrieux
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