Let's try to give another key to reading the beginning of this Tour de France, looking at that extraordinary passion that people are putting into it on the roadsides, even – unfortunately – excessive given the behavior of some reckless people. What does it come from? Perhaps from an increasingly stronger and almost unconscious desire to return to rejoice for a "rooster" capable of soaring in the most famous race in the world and the most popular sporting event beyond the Alps.
It's been since the time of the rivalry between the old Bernard Hinault and Laurent Fignon (in the opening photo) that the French are waiting for: they have seen champion-collectors like Indurain, the unfaithful one Armstrong, Froome; they applauded the feats of champions like pantani e Nibali swallowing bitter pills considering the rivalry that has always divided us with our "cousins"And they're still there waiting: why?
Tinazzi has been the owner of an important sportswear company since 1986, MSTina, born in the wake of an idea that the French rider had had in the last years of his career, thinking about a full zip shirt. Today among its testimonials there is also Gabriele Benedetti, the new Italian Under-23 champion, for whom MSTina has designed the new tricolor jersey, but let's get back to our topic. Tinazzi, a former domestique for Fignon and Sean Kelly, has a very precise idea.
«Cycling today is very different from that of my time because we raced from February to October – says the former Italian-French rider – today we never stop, but apparently, because the riders choose their goals, They show up at the start every time at 200 percent, then they finish the race they're interested in and disappear for a month. You have to be ready straight away, we started competing when we were at 60 percent of our condition, today you can't afford that."
The fact remains that the French are emerging everywhere, from MTB to BMX, but not in the sector that most interests people...
The federation, especially under the leadership of lappartHe's done a great job at the youth level, and now we're seeing the fruits of his work. There are good riders, David Gaudu (Groupama FDJ) and Remy Rochas (Cofidis) are two excellent prospects, but only time will tell if they can reach the top. Winning a major stage race is difficult, because you have to hold out for three weeks.: Pinot, Barguil they are great riders, all the same Bardet They have everything it takes to win the Tour, but they lack that certain something that makes them on top of things from start to finish.
Gaudu for example he won both the Peace Race and the Tour de l'Avenir in the same year as Pogacar, but currently they are at very different levels…
When we talk about young people we have to understand that Those who have won a lot in the youth categories don't always do the same as pros, in fact the opposite is more likely... I always recommend not rushing too much before passing, because if you're already pumped, you'll arrive squeezed and then it's difficult to emerge. You also have to consider that in cycling these days, everything is so exaggerated; it's no longer fun.
In the legendary 80s we had more fun, then…
Hugely. After the race we were all friends, From Vlaeminck e Maertens They were a river of jokes. Then, when we got on the bikes, we fought to the limit, but outside it was like the third half in rugby. Today, however, Everyone is on their own, with headphones and smartphones, everyone does their own training programs, everyone looks askance at each other. I don't like.
It's clear that this is a different era, even from an economic point of view...
Exactly: when they finished their career, the same Merckx e gimondi they got to work. Today, a few victories are enough and you've turned a corner, In those 4-5 years you earn enough to buy a few apartments and live off the income..
Will this long wait for a French Tour winner end?
I'm sure of it. Cycling lives in cycles: Belgium suffered after Merckx, Holland is recovering now after the period of raas e Knetemann, Italy won everything in the classics with Bartoli e betti, in short, our time will come too.
And Alaphilippe, was he right to give up the Olympics to aim for the yellow jersey?
In today's world, there are so many races that one less makes little difference. Julian didn't go that far two years ago., only that in the end he no longer had the team because they had worn out in controlling him with him in yellow. He did well to leave the jersey to Van Der Poel, for me it has some chance of winning…
