The departure of the 3rd stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné will be given this Tuesday from Brioude. The opportunity for the city of birth of Romain Bardet, who competes there the last race of his career, to celebrate his hero. A very beautiful tribute will be paid to the one who has finished the Tour de France twice on the podium.
The organizers of the Critérium du Dauphiné reserved a very nice gift for Romain Bardet (34 years old). Tuesday, it was indeed from Brioude (Haute-Loire) that the peloton of this race will start that first saw Tadej Pogacar, the immense favorite for the victory, respond to his number 1 rival Jonas Vingegaard to hit a big blow before the Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan was adorned in his turn of Rose, on Monday by showing himself the fastest during the 2nd stage.
But for the 3rd stage, there will only be for Bardet. More precisely, with regard to the first kilometers of the day. Because Brioude, it is neither more nor less than the stronghold of the emblematic French champion, who decided that this criterium of the Dauphiné whose he has already won (in 2015) and who saw him ended on the final podium twice (2nd in 2016, 3rd in 2018) would constitute the very last outing of his brilliant career. So it was necessary to find a moment to celebrate the former leader of the AG2R-La Mondiale team and its incredible route.
Caps, pennants, a speech …
By fixing the departure of this 3rd stage on the lands of the one who was born in Brioude, ASO could not find a more ideal ground. As soon as she knew that she would welcome this stage all to the glory of her hero, who left alone in front Monday evening (but without winning this stage victory of which he dreamed) when there were only twenty kilometers left, the city thought about concocting the most beautiful tributes despite the only ten minutes which will be caused to do so.
A speech by the mayor Jean-Luc Vachelard, collector’s caps with the image of the idol of the whole region, pennants (blue and white) struck by the initials of Bardet or even words of delicacy in the pupils of the local schools … Everything will be done so that the legendary climber of the DSM team never forgets this day. “It will be a big day, historic and symbolic,” says the mayor of Brioude in the Awakening of Haute-Loire (which entitled its edition of the day “Thank you Romain”) a few hours before this departure like the others.
