French riders still chasing elusive Tour de France victory

A Long Wait for Another French Tour de France Winner

Age isn’t just measured by noticing how young police officers look or struggling to use new technology. It can also be marked by realizing how long it’s been since a French cyclist last wore the yellow jersey after winning the Tour de France.

Nearly 40 years ago, in a quiet street in Lisieux, I watched Bernard Hinault step out of a car—after security pushed back the crowd—and put on the yellow jersey. Though visibly tired, he climbed onto his bike and rode laps in the evening sunlight during the town’s post-Tour exhibition race, a tradition still held every year.

If someone had told the spectators that evening that France would go four decades without another champion, they would have dismissed the idea entirely.

At the time, French riders had won nine of the previous 11 Tours. While Hinault was nearing retirement, Laurent Fignon—who had dominated the 1984 race—was expected to take over. But when the Tour begins this weekend in Lille, no French cyclist will be among the top contenders, continuing a pattern seen since the 1990s.

The questions about France’s lack of success started in 1992, when Fignon retired, and it became clear that Jean-François Bernard, another hopeful, would never win. Over the years, riders like Richard Virenque, Christophe Moreau, Romain Bardet, and Thibaut Pinot have come close, but none have reached the top. Now, Warren Barguil, nearing retirement, is supporting a younger teammate rather than competing for victory.

This year, French riders may claim stage wins or even the mountain classification, but a top-10 finish would be unexpected. David Gaudu, who placed fourth in 2022, won’t even compete after a drop in form.

Hinault remains puzzled by the decades-long drought. In a recent interview, he admitted he never expected such a long wait, adding, “It’s hard to say, but the truth is, there are no more major champions.”