In the world of professional cycling, some athletes transcend national borders and palmares, earning a special place in the hearts of fans. Romain Bardet is undoubtedly one of theseThe French cyclist, who recently retired from road cycling at the Critérium du Dauphiné, received an outpouring of affection and gratitude from his colleagues and fans.
To celebrate his extraordinary career and his last participation in a Grand Tour, Ursus – partner this year of the French rider's WorldTour team – has created a touching tribute video, released on its official social media channelsThe film, shot during the last Giro d'Italia, offers an exclusive look behind the scenes, capturing the emotions and highlights that characterised his last major stage race. This initiative is part of the larger Ursus project, “Behind the Race”, designed to tell the story of his first season alongside a WorldTour team.
Since 2021, after many years spent in the AG2R group, Bardet was a key figure and captain of Team dsm-firmenich PostNL (now Team Picnic-PostNL), contributing significantly to the successes of the Dutch team.
A journey of emotions and successes
Romain Bardet's career has been filled with memorable moments and performances that have ignited the hearts of fans. His name is inextricably linked to the Tour de France, where he finished second overall in 2016 and third in 2017. He wore the prestigious polka dot jersey in 2019 and won four stages of the Grande Boucle, wearing the yellow jersey for one day in 2024 at the finish line in Rimini. Although he failed to bring the coveted Tour title back to France, the thirty-four-year-old from Brioude has earned widespread admiration thanks to his fighting spirit and integrity.
In addition to his successes at the Tour, Bardet's palmarès boasts important victories such as the Tour of the Alps in 2022 and the Tour de l'Ain in 2013. He also won a stage at the Vuelta a Espana and a brilliant second place at the 2018 Innsbruck World Championships, behind the legendary Alejandro Valverde. Beyond his results, it was his bold and aggressive racing style—always on the attack, both uphill and downhill—that made him an icon and a darling for generations of cycling fans.
The Proxima Team Edition
In the final months of his professional road career, Romain Bardet was able to count on the excellent technical qualities of the wheels Ursus Proxima Team EditionThis top model, which has been used by Team Picnic PostNL this season, has played a crucial role in the team’s performance, which is increasingly distinguishing itself in the most important races on the WorldTour circuit. The partnership between Ursus and the Dutch team demonstrates the Italian company's commitment to providing cutting-edge products. who support athletes at the highest levels, helping to write new pages in the history of cycling.
Ursus' tribute to Romain Bardet is not only a tribute to a great champion, but also the recognition of an athlete who embodied the values of passion, resilience, and dedication that define cycling. His absence from racing will leave a void, but his legacy and the indelible mark he left on the hearts of fans will continue to inspire future generations of cyclists.
