Stefano Garzelli He's old school: a single captain is better for him. But it's equally true that the Varese native is well-versed in recognizing new dynamics and values on the pitch. And against Pogacar's overwhelming power, it's better to have two strikers. «When you have someone like Pogacar in front of you, it's a good idea to bring two of them, because you know that in a head-to-head situation everyone is a loser.», the pink jersey of 2000 had told us.
And not only Jumbo-Visma, Tadej's main rival, has two strikers, but also Groupama-Fdj with Thibaut Pinot e david gaudu (Instagram photo opening).
Running together will be important and vital. The sports director Philippe Mauduit It gives us a better understanding of how they will try to face the monsters that will compete for the Grande Boucle.
Leaders and friends
Pinot and Gaudu are going very strong. We also saw Pinot live at Tour of the AlpsGaudu performed well at the Dauphiné, even winning a stage. Two strikers, two leaders then... as long as they don't collide.
«Between Pinot and Gaudu – says Mauduit with his usual kindness – things will happen quite naturally. David has already shown that he's willing to put himself at Thibaut's service. And Thibaut said at the Tour de Suisse that he's ready to share whatever the road throws at him. And that he'd be happy to pull for David, given what he's done for him over the years."
«What Garzelli says is not wrong, there are more possibilities. pogacar He won the first Tour with virtually no team. He had a better team in the second and managed it better. This year he has a much stronger team. Plus, Tadej is a phenomenon, and phenomena are difficult to destabilize. If we have the legs, if we are able, we will try to attack him. including Ineos-Grenadiers, Jumbo Visma... ".
Very thin, this year Pinot returned to victory at both the TOTA and the Tour of Switzerland (pictured) Gaudu also won. Here he is, beating Van Aert in the third stage of the Dauphiné.
Very thin, this year Pinot returned to victory at both the TOTA and the Tour of Switzerland (pictured) Gaudu also won. Here he is, beating Van Aert in the third stage of the Dauphiné.
Alliances yes or no?
By mentioning other teams, Mauduit opens a fascinating window: that of cross-team alliances. It's one thing for two riders from the same team to attack in turn, and quite another for multiple captains from different teams to do so.
"I don't think joint alliances are possible in modern cycling," Mauduit explains. "It's different than it was thirty years ago. Teams have partners with very different and specific interests. Everyone races independently, hoping to show their colors as best they can.
«Maybe the common interest there can be in one stage: to block a breakaway or put someone else in difficulty. But these are alliances that are born on the ground and in the moment."
The key, however, is all in Mauduit's previous sentence: "legs permitting." Before tactics, dual leaders, and alliances, we need to be able to attack Pogacar or whoever. If anything, Pinot and Gaudu can motivate each other through training, through living the life of a fierce athlete. The rooster who wants to dethrone the king. The king who wants to maintain his leadership.
"Both," Mauduit continues, "are competitive guys. Thibaut is coming off a year and a half of being forced to stop every two or three weeks. In the last six months he has had no more problems and is slowly returning to his normal levels. But that's normal. He lives for competition. Now he's confident, fit, and physically healthy.
«The other, David, has grown and is increasingly more confident and motivated. It's a shame that in Paris-Nice he broke a vertebra which made him lose time and therefore he didn't do what he wanted to do 100%. But he's also coming back at the right point, at the right time. So I'm not saying they're brothers, but they're certainly very good friends."
Teamwork
The unity of Groupama-Fdj can be seen not only from the two leaders, but also from the team they brought and how they prepared the approach to the Tour de France. Teamwork during retreats, taking care of technical aspects, competitions...
Although from this last point of view it is curious to note how the two strikers in question have almost never run together this season. The only race in which the team fielded both of them was the Mercan'Tour Classic, a one-day race on May 31st. The race was also used primarily for reconnaissance in the following days, given that it was held in the Alpine region.
«We inspected the initial stages and the cobblestones twice. We've also included some guys in the team who are capable of pulling for this type of stage and in the wind."
"We also made the technical choices with the help of the team that does the classics. We worked with them. We chose special wheels. The bike for the cobblestones will be the Lapierre Xelius (a little less rigid than the air code, ed.). We really couldn't have done more."
