Even if the route of the Tour 2021 promises to be different with less mountain, the French riders are rather unanimous in appreciating it.
Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ): “It’s a course that we haven’t had for several years, with a lot of sprints, a lot of stages for punchers, not enough mountains in the first part and quite tough Pyrenees. There is a beautiful stage in Tignes, which is for me the most fun mountain stage. There are quite a few stages where the wind could be quite tricky. It’s a different course than in recent years, less for climbers, more for complete runners especially with two big lap times. You have to see in detail, it’s a course that is interesting all the same. “
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ): “The first two stages will be great arrivals for punchers climbers, and take place 15 km from my parents and my home, it makes you want to be there. These are roads that I know by heart. Mûr-de-Bretagne is our Alpe-d’Huez, with this straight climb where the public supports all runners. All the arrivals in the Alps and the Pyrenees are going to be interesting. I really liked the climb to the Col du Portet (in 2018) ”
Guillaume Martin (Cofidis): “At first glance, it seems to me to be a fairly balanced Tour. I am very happy with this return to the West as a Normand even if Normandy is narrowly avoided. Compared to 2020, the course is more tricky with entry to arrivals for punchers and stages where it will be windy. Serious things will quickly start with an alpine weekend which promises to be quite difficult, the Ventoux and the sequence with the Pyrenees which seems complicated and spectacular to me. It is a beautiful course which gives me several avenues for reflection. Why not do what is now at La Vuelta (he wears the best climber’s jersey) by aiming for the stages and the polka-dot jersey? I proved last July that I can compete with the best as well, so the overall can be a goal. “
Nans Peters (AG2R La Mondiale): “ We will return to a more classic format, with a first week which may be very nervous. Personally, I am a little disappointed that there are only two stages in the Alps. But the course pleases me well, there will be a good part in the Pyrenees for the offensive riders, breakaways which will go to the end. “
Romain Bardet (Sunweb): “It’s a slightly more traditional route, a little more classic, which reminds me of the Tour I watched in my childhood, with two big lap times which will be important deadlines for the general classification. At first glance, there is not the typical sequence of high mountain stages that suit me or intermediate massifs that can tire the bodies. But this Tour could be tricky, the wind will be important. The third week gives pride of place to the mountains, the strong men will emerge at that time. We remember that the Col du Portet had made some nice gaps (in 2018). I will certainly be there, we are still in the approach phase, the objectives have not yet been defined but I am happy to be able to plan for 2021 already. “
Article original de: www.leparisien.fr
