On the eve of the Grand Départ du Tour de France 2025, Thomas Voeckler announced bad news for tricolor cycling.
We left! The peloton of 112e edition of
Tour de France This Saturday, July 5, will start this Saturday, from Lille for three weeks of racing on a 100% hexagonal route. The French precisely, what should we expect this year? For South WestThomas Voeckler expressed himself on the tricolor runners to follow.
“” I am pleasantly surprised that Arnaud Démare was selected (by Arkéa-B & B). He was very close to the win last year, recalled the old yellow jersey of the Tour. There will obviously be Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ), Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B & B) and I am very curious to see Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious). If they do not highlight themselves, it is because they had a glitch. “”
Thomas Voeckler then said optimistic about Julian Alaphilippe’s state of shape, who did not start the big loop last year. “” I add Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) of course. We will have very good Julianhe assured.
I know how he worked, his turn of Switzerland will not be a weektime. I’m also waiting to see if Paul Penhoët (Groupama-FDJ) will cross a level on the sprints. “”
A French winner of the Tour? Voeckler answers “no”, for the moment …
On the other hand, the coach of the French road cycling team is much less optimistic about the chances of seeing a Frenchman won the tour, even in the next four or five years. As a reminder, the last tricolor winner is none other than Bernard Hinault. It was in 1985 forty years ago.
“I answered no long (on the possibility of seeing a French succeed Bernard Hinault, editor’s note), then yes with the generation Bardet, Pinot and Alaphilippereplied Voeckler, who however places a lot of hope in the new generation. I answer again no, and I am convinced that we can answer yes in four or five years. We have talents coming. You still have to wait. But I think we can believe it one day again. “”
