2023-06-04 08:51:33
“Stop saying that the Tour de France starts on July 1. In fact it starts from this week in the Dauphiné. “Yvon Ledanois, the sports director of the Spanish formation Movistar has a sharp judgment when asked to gauge the interest of the 75th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné which starts this Sunday in Puy-de-Dôme.
“As of this week, we will be able to gauge the level of a lot of contenders for victory or a podium on the Tour, he continues. Everyone is waiting for a demonstration of the Jumbo-Visma like last year and Vingegaard (second in 2022 behind his teammate Primoz Roglic) will have no choice and will have to show that he is the boss. It’s the big favourite. “Even if since 2018 and the victory of Geraint Thomas, no one has succeeded in the Grande Boucle – Dauphiné double, the Rhône-Alpes race often gives basic indications for July.
Last year for example, Vingegaard, while playing the collective for Roglic, had demonstrated during the last weekend mountain abilities superior to his leader. Wednesday’s 31km lap should help him put his rivals ahead of the final three days at altitude.
Gaudu wants a podium
Conversely, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), had collapsed on the last day and revealed mental flaws which then played tricks on him at Alpe-D’Huez, before he recovered and hung on 4th place in Paris. The little Breton climber must prove that he learns from his mistakes. “I hope that the sensations will be good until the end for the general classification, he admits. The objective is the final podium on Sunday. »
Better than Vingegaard during Paris-Nice, Gaudu was then beaten by the Dane during the Tour of the Basque Country. “For me, Gaudu must demonstrate a lot of things in relation to his status in his team, explains Yvon Ledanois. And that goes through a very good Dauphiné. Gaudu, while the selection of his team is not yet made, will have a say in the final choice. Even if he refused to say it publicly on Friday, he would, for example, like to count on the support of Thibaut Pinot in July. And his word will have much more weight if his performance in the final general classification of the Dauphiné is good.
Alaphilippe wants a stage
The other French headliner had not come to this event for three years. The rider from Soudal – Quick Step has not raced for six weeks after a frustrating first part of the season for him (only one success in the Ardèche Classic) but admits that he is “very well physically and mentally after very good preparation. The objective is a stage victory here”. For Yvon Ledanois, it could arrive this Sunday. “The first stage is harder than you think and Julian has the means to win. Anyway, Julian has nothing to prove. Neither to his boss Patrick Lefevere nor to anyone. If he feels the confidence of his team, I think we can have great Alaphilippe this week. »
Egan Bernal wants to come back
The Colombian, winner of the 2019 Tour, had been close to death in a road accident in training on January 22, 2022. Since then, he has been trying to regain his best level. His team Ineos will give him a big test this week which will determine if Bernal can remain his best asset in the future to aim for another victory on the Tour. “I have immense respect for Bernal, loose Ledanois. He was very correct during the Tour de Romandie. But can he become the great Bernal of before? I put a big downside “.
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