Ask any general member of the public when the last French winner of the Tour de France was, they’d probably guess sometime within the last ten years.
It’s a reasonable assumption, it is held in France after all, which should give them a natural advantage.
But they might be surprised to discover no Frenchman has stood on top of the podium since 1985, when Bernard Hinault took the last of his five wins.
The question that comes to mind is why? Why have the French not been able to take a win in their home race for 28 years?
The lack of a genuine contender has to be a key factor. Besides Richard Virenque, the French have not been on the podium since 1989, when Laurent Fignon lost out to Greg LeMond of the USA by eight seconds.
And since the turn of the century, there has not been a Tour where a Frenchman was the favourite.
Recently however, the tide seems to be turning for the French.
Since 2011, they have put in some impressive performances thanks to the likes of Thomas Voeckler, Pierre Rolland, Thibaut Pinot et al.
This year also seems to be their best chance of a win in a good number of years, and a podium can be considered achievable should the cycling gods stay with Rolland and Pinot in what should be a hectic first week.
Rolland would have to be considered their best hope. He has taken two Alpine summit finishes in the last two Tours, including adding his name to the list of winners atop Alpe d’Huez.
The decrease in the amount of time-trial kilometres will do nothing to harm Rolland’s chances, and the four summit finishes he will surely be looking to target.
Thibaut Pinot is the other main French contender. Pinot took a stunning win into Porrentruy last year, with iconic scenes of his team manager, Marc Madiot, cheering him on as he went down in the history books of the Tour. He also made the top ten, and finished second in the young rider’s category.
All of this bodes well for another successful Tour for the Frenchmen this year. However, stood in their way is a formidable field of contenders.
Alberto Contador, Cadel Evans, Christopher Froome and Jurgen Van Den Broeck are all set to be team leaders and leading contenders at this year’s Tour.
Even a French fan would have to admit Rolland or Pinot would have to have a perfect Tour to beat all of these men.
So, this year? Maybe not, but if all goes well, a podium is definitely an achievable goal.
But one has to speculate it cannot be long until the French’s near-30 year wait is over.
Frank Spinetti
Guest
The headline in L'equipe was "Philippe Gaumont n'est plus...." i.e. Philippe Gaumont is no more.
Tomas Fish
Roar Guru
Definitely, we need more Voigt's in the peloton. Thanks a lot!
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Yep, the sport there used to be full of farm boys and coal miners, now it's all a little too glamorous and preeny if you ask me! Good article Tom, cheers!
Tomas Fish
Roar Guru
I agree! I think that's the thing that's motivated the English speaking riders in the last few years, before the 2011 Tour Geraint Thomas was saying how he liked being an underdog. Cavendish always says how the French go in the breaks on the flat stages, they'd rather show off the jersey for a few hours rather than try and sprint for the win and risk getting nothing.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
That old line about the French being clean is just that, an old line. Yes it might be cleaner than certain nations but not by a huge chunk. Virenque has been mentioned, let's not forget that Philippe Gaumont is in a coma right now (or may be out, but was), and that Fignon wondered once or twice whether his cancer might have been a side effect of all the dope he took. I think it's more down to the fact that there is less and less racing in France (sportifs have taken over) and that French pros have not generally had the same hunger as, say, the English-speakers in recent years. As Hinault said when he heard French riders saying that they weren't winning cos they doped less: "I'm outraged," he said. "It's easier for French riders to say that the others are doped than to go off and train. "Winning is the only thing that matters in cycling. The problem today is that the riders (French) are happy to simply ride well, to show off their jersey in a race." I don't know about you, but I'm not gonna argue with The Badger...!
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
yep thats very true! However, Virenque, Moreau and co did use banned substances too, yet they didnt win anything meaningful. Jalabert is the only one who won a tour (spain) and wasnt caught (although imo he took things during his career). I still think cycling isnt as big a sport in france than it is in belgium, spain, italy etc. and there has not been a Contador, Gilbert, Pantani, etc for a long time (doping or not).
Lamby
Roar Rookie
It is no coincidence that the French have not won a tour in the EPO era where UCI has allowed this to happen. The French have had the most inquisitive media, strictest laws and best in-county drug testers.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I think French cycling is nowhere near its neighbours unfortunately and it has been like this for a very long time. Hinault and Fignon were the last champions IMO, the Virenque, Jalabert and Chavanel that followed were never tour de France contenders IMO. They are a few guys, like Pinot, Gadret etc , capable of a coup like Voeckler in 2011, but I don't think it will ever be enough to win a TdF. They are punchers and like Voeckler, can be part of a winning escape but we all know Voeckler isn't and top 10 contender and was very lucky to finish 4th in 2011. It seems a new generation of sprinters is coming with Bouhanni and Demare but when it comes to competing against the best, I don't think there is a high quality all rounder yet.
Tomas Fish
Roar Guru
I agree, you could see he was out to send a message from the first mountain stage of the Vuelta. Whatever people say, you can't deny that a race is so much more exciting when he's in it.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Personally think Alberto Contador is out to send a message at the 2013 TDF. He's still pretty miffed that he was stripped of his 2010 TDF and 2011 Giro. His victory at the 2012 Vuelta was frightening. Contador will want to put Wiggins back in his place as well.