“Your passage through this famous bend at Puy Mary gave rise to some beautiful images, tell us regarding them…
I haven’t had time to see them yet but I was lucky enough to experience them. It was exceptional, I want to thank… (He stops.) It was incredible, in fact I didn’t expect such fervor and so much shared pleasure. I’m not used to being the center of attention and there it was on my home turf, my training roads… I got the shivers. I’ve had many racing days in my career but I’ve never experienced anything like it. Of course, it would have been an even greater emotion if I had been leading the race, but once I felt that my legs had decided otherwise, I was able to fully immerse myself in it and enjoy it.
The general classification leaders decided to fight for the stage, was it impossible for it to be otherwise?
That’s good for the stage, and I suspected it a little since yesterday (Tuesday) because I know quite a few people in the peloton now (he smiles). We felt that too, because there won’t be much to sink our teeth into in the Pyrenees. I’m happy that it was perhaps the scene of a reversal of the balance of power between the top three in the general classification, that Cantal served to change the course of this Tour. The only way to try something for me or the team was to be at the front. It took a long time to get out, it’s one of the hardest stage starts I’ve ever ridden. I had invested a lot in the first 70 km but I had a puncture, I had to change bikes and I wasted a lot of energy. That’s how it is, my legs are good and it’s encouraging for the rest of the Tour.
“I will continue to ride here all my life”
When you see such enthusiasm, you have to be proud of your career, right?
Yes, but it’s not over. Even if it’s already a great Tour, honestly I still want to be at the front, to win or have someone win a stage. We’re halfway through the Tour, it’s going to be important to be there. But it’s true that with this great start, the fact that I hadn’t won for six years… People see that my self-denial has paid off and all the messages I receive touch me a lot.
Did you think a lot regarding the fact that this was your last day on home soil in the Tour de France?
Yes and no. The tribute that was paid to me is a magnificent final bouquet and in any case I will continue to ride here all my life. I will simply have been lucky enough to do it in these exceptional conditions on the Tour.
