He is one of the leaders of this first part of the Tour de France. As the Tour arrives in our former Midi-Pyrénées region this weekend, Anthony Perez, one of the two regionals on the stage with Benjamin Thomas, is eagerly awaited. On Sunday, the peloton arrives via Aveyron with a 15th stage starting in Rodez. 202.5 km to Carcassonne via Tarn and Haute-Garonne.
And there’s a good chance that we’ll see each other again at the front of the race the Toulousain of the Cofidis team, winner of the combativeness prize on the 4th stage of the Tour between Dunkirk and Calais, and at the head of the race on Thursday, escaped alone in the Col du Galibier. 78th overall, Anthony Perez will be keen to shine on home soil, in front of his family and friends. His father Juan and his sister Sophie believe in it but…
“We can’t know. In the evening, he said to me: “I am dead”. And the next day he will attack”, smiled his father. Her sister continues. “A lot of times he tries to stay up front or show up because he’s in his area. You’ll see him, don’t worry. He lives his life the way he wants to. That’s Anthony. That’s not because I’m saying that to my brother, but he’s a very pleasant person. He’s very accessible, and it’s not given to everyone.”
The dream of a grandfather and a father
The Perez family will be present in Carcassonne on Sunday to encourage him. Cycling has been part of the family for a long time, and Anthony has, as it were, realized the dream of an Andalusian grandfather who was crazy about cycling, and of a dad on the verge of turning pro. Even before pedaling, Anthony was already on a bike, recalls Sophie. “Mom spent her life on her bike to go to work, to do the shopping. And Anthony, already small, was always in the seat behind.”
Fan of German rider Yann Ulrich, Anthony Perez starts at 8 – 9 years old with his neighbor Morad. However, his dad Juan tried to dissuade him. “Since he was little, he wanted to do his job. And I knew it was not easy. One day, I wanted to disgust him. I made him do 80 terminals behind me. He came back and he said to his mother: “It’s okay, I’ve decided”. And his mother was cheering him on, thunder.”
One day, I wanted to disgust him. I made him do 80 bollards behind me. He came home and he said to his mother: “It’s good, I’ve decided”
First license in Saint-Alban, then Villemur, Aix-en-Provence passing by the Creps of Toulouse, before turning professional at Cofidis. Anthony Perez is the pride of the whole family today. And his little nephew Lorenzo, 9 years old. “The stage where he did 160 kilometers ahead, we were sad but he still had a good stage. I am his biggest supporter and proud to have him as our uncle. We can’t wait for him to win.”
The dream for the 31-year-old rider would be a first stage victory for his 5th Tour de France on Sunday on his land.