It can't be easy to hear at every race you show up at: "Romain, it's your last race here." "Romain, your life as a rider is coming to an end." It's a bit like the fate of those who announce their retirement prematurely. And we understand well when Alessandro De Marchi A few days ago he told us that there's still a lot to do before hanging up his bike.
Romain, it was Bardet, clearly. The Frenchman of the Team PicnNic- PostNL he is thus preparing to end his career. But he wants to go out the front door, with all the trimmings that come with it.
Latest assaults
La Liege-Bastogne-Liege It was Romain Bardet's last Monument. The Frenchman was somewhat under attack, especially since he had just missed out on a Liège. It was precisely last year's.
"La Doyenne is a race I really enjoy, so it was nice to be able to participate one last time." So, the farewells have already begun. Wherever the Frenchman goes he is well liked. Ultimately, it was an important piece of international cycling, especially French cycling.
He, like Thibaut Pinot, he carried the burden of Hinault's heir and of who was to win the Tour de France at all costs. A pressure that absolutely didn't help them. Despite everything, we're talking about a rider who has bagged 11 victories, almost all of them weighty, two podiums at the Grand Boucle, and finished in the top ten of the Grand Tours nine times. But above all, he did all this as a climber, and climbers who go strong always find a place in the fans' hearts.
On with the Giro
But let's get back to current events, less than a week away from the start in Durazzo. Perhaps without the Liège crash, he could have arrived at the Giro in a better position, but he's not backing down.
"For now," Bardet said, "I'm feeling very good. I haven't had the results I'd hoped for in this first part of the season, so I still have a lot to do. But that's also why I'm not lacking in motivation."
«What are the answers after the Tour of the Alps? I'd say it's good. We're still building our fitness. I'm not at my best yet, but there's still a little room for improvement. Everyone in the team is following their own path, so that's positive. I am very motivated by the idea of a great program like the Giro».
The Frenchman also emphasized the importance of the third week of the Giro. "I'm particularly looking forward to the third week," said the 1990-born rider, "with some iconic climbs. I want to show character and be in front in some way to enjoy the race, enjoy my passion for cycling».
Dreaming of three of a kind
When we point out that he has many fans in Italy, especially after the last few seasons where he's been a regular at the Giro d'Italia, he nods and smiles. It's his way of saying thank you.
"What can you tell them?" we ask. "I'm happy to be able to see them at the Giro," he replies, "especially the third week, which promises to be full of mountains. I'm happy that my last major tour is the Giro and I hope to reach a very high level. Stages or standings? We'll see, the road will tell..."
"We certainly have a strong enough team for the sprints (Van Uden is the main point of reference, ed.), and we have two strong cards for the general classification. We'll try to put in a solid race over the 21 days that lie ahead."
This time we didn't even touch the "stage victory" button. And even Romain (perhaps out of superstition) didn't say anything about it, but It is known that Bardet's greatest dream would be to win one in the race pinkIt's the only one he's missing from the three Grand Tours and it would be an exhilarating way to end his career.
