(Orléans) It’s not a stage victory in the Tour de France that will change Hugo Houle.
Posted at 8:15 p.m.
Less than 24 hours before the finish on the Champs-Élysées, the Israel-Premier Tech cyclist agreed to grant an interview to The Press when he went to bed on Saturday night.
He had returned earlier than expected from the Rocamadour time trial. So I missed him when he arrived at a hotel in Orleans, two hours south of Paris.
I would have understood that he wanted to sleep quietly around 10:30 p.m. Instead, he said: “Come on, I have 10 minutes. »
In the end, he talked about twenty of them, lying in his bed in boxer shorts, the cross in memory of his brother hanging around his neck.
He listened to the news, headlined by the attack on Odessa. Apart from his shoes and headphones on the desk, nothing was lying around. Above his impeccably stowed suitcase, he had placed the number 196 worn on the clock for the 20e stage, where he slowed down, seeing that he was not heading for an interesting result (88e). The bib will go to someone who asks him for a souvenir.
Barring an incident during the 21e stage on Sunday, Houle will therefore conclude his fourth Tour at 24e rank in the general classification, just over 1 h 40 min behind Dane Jonas Vingegaard, who consolidated his yellow jersey by finishing second in the time trial on Saturday.
The Quebecer is surrounded by renowned riders like Bauke Mollema, Wout van Aert, Brandon McNulty, Rigoberto Uran. Like him, they haven’t necessarily played general every day, aiming for stages or devoting themselves to helping their leaders.
Houle is especially proud of his achievements in specific stages. His historic victory in Foix, of course, but also the three other breakaways in which he went very far, including a third place in Carcassonne.
“I was with tough guys. Having the skill to take them is one thing, but you have to smell the good shots and be able to make the difference in the end of these breakaways. An occasion like Tuesday’s may never come again. »
PROVIDED BY ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH
Hugo Houle is warming up for his time trial in Rocamadour.
His performance during the three weeks is all the more satisfying as Houle had to wait before receiving the call from Israel-Premier Tech.
“Two weeks before the start, I didn’t know if I was going to take part. My team was not able to confirm my place. It’s the best answer I could give them. »
Houle quietly takes the measure of his achievement on Tuesday. In the peloton, several riders gave him messages of sympathy.
“They didn’t necessarily know my story. They were happy that I had achieved that. I think it affected a lot of people in France too. In the following stages, many people were chanting my name. Will it change anything for me? I’ve no idea. For now, I’m back to my normal daily life. I’m doing my shopping. »
The reader of The Press+ is also aware of the “wave of sympathy” that has swept through Quebec. “From what I saw, it made a lot of headlines. It still had its impact. It was a big wave of emotions on Tuesday, but from Wednesday, it starts again. »
Does he think his life will change? ” Not necessarily. After the Tour de France, I’m going home to Monaco. No one will notice that I’m walking down the street. It might have been different if I had flown to Montreal. In fact, I have no idea if it changed anything or not. I’ll tell you that in a year! So far, things are going well. »
In Paris on Sunday, Houle will reunite with his partner Stéphanie Matteau and his friend Jean Bélanger, CEO of Premier Tech, a longtime sponsor. His parents, whom he has not seen since the Canadian championships in September 2021 in Beauce, will not be there.
“With everyone, all the euphoria on the Champs, they say hello to you for five minutes. It’s a long journey for that. I prefer to see them in October when I will be quieter. They will probably come to visit me in Europe. »
After a team dinner in the evening, he will return to Monaco the next day. “I will keep calm and try to do well at the Arctic Race of Norway (he was 5e in 2019). Normally two weeks after a big tour I have good strength. I would like to take advantage of that. »
Houle will then take a little rest in anticipation of the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec and Montréal (September 9 and 11), where he will be able to truly measure his new status.
But first of all, he still has to travel 116 km to Paris, where he will complete the event that will change his life… or not!
No Worlds
Unlike his teammate Guillaume Boivin, Hugo Houle has no intention of participating in the World Championships in Wollongong, Australia, the week of September 19.
“The team needs points, and I’m on the list of riders who must contribute. I will therefore concentrate on my racing programme. The trip to Australia would have too much impact and it’s tight with the races in Quebec. Then as usual, Cycling Canada has no money and they don’t want to pay anything. »
PROVIDED BY ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH
Hugo Houle during his time trial in Rocamadour
Velocity
The 109e Tour de France will be the fastest in history, could we read in The Team Saturday. The average of just over 42 km/h will surpass the previous mark set in 2005 when… Lance Armstrong completed the race in 41.65 km/h. Houle explains this blazing speed partly by the improvement of the material, in particular the tires. “We can feel it, it’s going much faster than before. At first, we had 53-tooth chainrings. Two years ago, we put in 54s. Next year, I wonder if I’m not going to run with a 55. » The technical ends of the stages and the incessant fight before the formation of the breakaways also contributed to those fast speeds. “Except in Denmark, where it was relatively easy because there was no wind, there was not a day when we sat down and drove 200 km looking at the fields of corn…”