(Orleans) The French runners of Total Direct Énergie sipped beers at the bar while listening to anecdotes from the era of their manager Jean-René Bernaudeau, Saturday evening, in a hotel on the outskirts of Orléans, two hours south of Paris.
Posted at 5:57 p.m.
24 hours from the end of 109e Tour de France, it was time to relax with the teammates of Peter Sagan, whose ambitions must be modest for the massive sprint expected on the Champs-Élysées on Sunday evening.
By contrast, the mask is still de rigueur at Israel-Premier Tech (IPT), which has not been spared by COVID-19 with the forced withdrawals of Chris Froome and Simon Clarke, stage winner on the cobblestones. ‘Arenberg in the first week. Canadian Michael Woods is ill, although screening tests have been negative so far.
PROVIDED BY ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH
Michael Woods warms up before the Rocamadour time trial.
Guillaume Boivin hadn’t had time to shower when he sat down for an interview in the dining room earlier.
After the final time in Rocamadour, won by none other than Wout van Aert, the native of Longueuil jumped into a team car to hit the four-hour drive separating him from Orléans. “The trip was a lot harder than the time trial,” sighed Boivin, 109e of this 20e and penultimate stage.
Called at the last minute after a case of COVID-19 from a teammate, who arrived at the big start in Copenhagen without his suitcase and his three bikes, Boivin had a very difficult second Tour in sporting terms.
“It wasn’t fun for me,” he admitted. A chance that the guys had a good Tour. It gives morale. Me, I didn’t enjoy it very much. When you don’t have the legs to do anything, it’s kinda boring. Well, that was the situation. I hope to have the chance to do a third round to take my revenge. »
A few factors explain this misshapen. At the request of his team, desperate for UCI points, Boivin cut short a mountain course to compete in races in Belgium, rather than line up for the Critérium du Dauphiné. The sequence of events prevented him from training properly.
Very disappointed not to be part of the initial IPT selection, the 33-year-old athlete went to the Canadian championships in Edmonton, where he finished second. Recalled in disaster, he landed in Copenhagen without luggage, but with 4 kilos more than last year.
“It’s 10 pounds of potatoes,” he said. My preparation was light years away from that of last year. »
PHOTO ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Guillaume Boivin (right) and Owain Doull (left) during the 17e step of 109e Tour de France
Fortunately, his form went crescendo. He even slipped into a two-man breakaway at the foot of the Col d’Aspin on Wednesday. “I paid dearly afterwards. I suffered, but at least I had the legs to try something. »
The next day, he had to change bikes two kilometers after the start of the stage towards Hautacam. He found himself with three guys dropped by the peloton which was going at 60 km/h, while the marshals made a roadblock. Couldn’t get back through the caravan cars.
“At the foot of Aubisque, I was nine minutes behind the peloton, I think. There, I was afraid that my Tour would end, honestly. The limit [pour terminer dans les temps] was 40 minutes that day. We all did an individual time trial to the line. I was glad I had not so bad legs so I could survive. »
Despite everything, Boivin is happy to have been able to experience the “extraordinary” effervescence in Denmark and the “incredible moment” experienced by his friend Hugo Houle.
Collectively, IPT, with whom he has been evolving since almost the beginning in 2016, has experienced a Grande Boucle beyond expectations.
“Apart from the big armadas who swept everything, we can be really proud of our Tour. Two wins, three third places, and we were very often represented in the breakaways that go to the end. It is an extraordinary Tour. »
Boivin is “extremely motivated” for the rest of the season, which will include appearances at the Quebec and Montreal Grands Prix and a probable start at the World Championships in Wollongong, Australia. “I had a good race last year [17e à Louvain], but I think I’m capable of more. »
Otherwise, he still has not found the suitcase and bicycles lost by Air Canada. “I have a little full my helmet. After a month, you expect to hear from me. Apparently his time trial bike is in Copenhagen. Who knows, he might go and pick it up himself since he has to take part in the Tour of Denmark in mid-August…