No shaking like last year: France already redeemed at the Tour de France

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The cheer of Victor Lafay (27) in San Sebastian is for an entire nation. The Frenchman cheated top stars such as Wout van Aert (28) and Tadej Pogacar (24) with an attack just before the line and was the first to save himself just before the smaller field. A few feet ahead for big redemption.

France need not tremble anymore. Last year it took Christophe Laporte (30) almost until the end of the last week of the tour to get the coals out of the fire. Only on the third and last day did it succeed with a local stage victory.

15 year dry spell over

Not only the Grande Nation takes a deep breath, but also the French team Cofidis. Lafay takes the team’s first Tour stage win since 2008.

France rubs her eyes. Is a new star growing up with Lafay? In the grueling opening stage on Saturday, Lafay was the only one able to keep up with tour favorites Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard (26) and day winner Adam Yates (30) in the infamous Pike climb. In one of the toughest sections, Lafay even moved forward briefly as if to annoy the top favourites. What he has now certainly achieved with the stage victory.

Pogacar and Vingegaard back in the spotlight

Just like Saturday, the second stage in the Basque Country lured the top favorites of the tour from their reserves. Because after the 10 km climb to the Jaizkibel, shortly before the finish, bonus seconds are distributed for the general classification, Pogacar goes on the attack and gains 8 seconds.

Last year’s winner Vingegaard keeps close behind Pogacar and takes 5 seconds. When the two high flyers then only contest the descent, Vingegaard refuses to take the lead. He knows that teammate Wout van Aert is the top favorite to win the day, provided he can catch up again.

Van Aert manages to move up. But one man intervenes: Victor Lafay, France’s new darling.

Source : Blick