With 32 runners, France is the most represented country on this Tour de France departing from Copenhagen (Denmark). But among these runners, five will discover the routes of the Grande Boucle for the first time. Some are called upon to fill the leading roles during certain stages while others take on the role of teammate and ride in the service of their team.. We therefore wanted to introduce you to these French neophytes on this queen event of cycling: Matis Louvel (Arkea Samsic), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Benjamin thomas (Cofidis), Jeremy Lecroq (B&B Hotels – KTM) et Geoffrey Bouchard (AG2R Citroen).
The youngest Matis Louvel
© Arkéa Samsic
Professional for three years at Arkéa Samsic, Matis Louvel from Rouen (22 years) discovered this Friday the Tour de France. The youngest French neophyte of this Tour has chained very good performances throughout the season. He notably finished 14th in the Nieuwsblad, 19th in Across Flanders, 17th in the Tour of Flanders or 15th in Paris-Roubaix. Grand – son and son of cyclists, Matis Louvel did not start with cycling but judo.
Quickly, it rocks on two wheels where the pleasure is more present, and still today. Evidenced by his wheeling during Liège – Bastogne – Liège in full climb of La Roche aux Focons. Winner of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon 2021, Louvel confirmed his level with two ninth places in the Critérium du Dauphiné 2022. Big fan of classics, it is likely to see the Rouennais at the forefront during Wednesday's cobbled stage (steps 5, Lille Metropolis – Arenberg).
The climber Victor Lafay
© Dario Belingheri
Extremely promising runner, Lyonnais Victor Lafay (26 years) discovered the Grande Boucle within the northern team Cofidis. After competing in the Vuelta 2020, it's at the Giro 2021 that Lafay reveals his talent at the highest level. Very young promise, the native of Lyon struggled to hatch in the professional world. Indeed, Victor Lafay suffered a succession of injuries.
Le 15 May 2021, he won a resounding victory in the 8The Tour of the Pays de Vaud stage of the Giro: after a sharp attack on the final climb (3,5 km to 6,7%). Indeed, although he is a native of Lyon, Victor Lafay quickly moves to Haute Savoie, in Anthy sur Léman. This move allows him to develop his phenomenal climbing abilities. On this Tour de France 2022, with its Cofidis team led by Guillaume Martin, he will mainly chase stage wins, and in particular that of the 10The Tour of the Pays de Vaud stage (Morzine The Gates of the Sun – Megève, mardi 12 July) who will pass a few kilometers from his family home.
Benjamin Thomas the Wheeler
© Michaël Gilson
The Cofidis team aligns a second French neophyte on this Tour de France, in the person of Benjamin Thomas (26 years). From the Tarn, he is initially a speed lover, and more specifically track cycling. In this discipline, he won several world champion titles. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, he won the Bronze medal on the American. In 2018, he signs with Groupama – FDJ, team in which he will finish his moult on road cycling. He thus became French time trial champion twice. (2019 and 2021). Good climbers to help Pinot win the Tour de France 2018, he sets off on the Vuelta, ending 121The Tour of the Pays de Vaud. He returned to Spain in 2019 but must give up, just like on the Giro 2020. he varies his cycling outings by devoting a large part of his training to cyclo-cross 2022, he joins Cofidis.
Particularly in good shape since the start of the season, he won the Etoile de Bessèges then the Boucles de la Mayenne. He thus confirms his excellent transition on the road. The athletic qualities he has developed on the track make him one of the biggest riders in the peloton, and a potential time trial winner. It thus ends at 34 seconds by Yves Lampaert (Quick – Step) during the first stage of this Tour de France. Above all, he is the first Frenchman on this stage. Expected on particular time trial formats, Benjamin Thomas can also create a surprise on a more uneven stage. During the Criterium du Dauphiné 2022, sole survivor of an escape from 70 km it is taken back just 200m from the line.
The sprinter Jérémy Lecroq
© B&B Hotel
For his first Tour de France, Parisian Jérémy Lecroq (27 years) had the honor of opening this edition 2022 by being the first rider to start Friday's inaugural time trial. Professional since 2017, and within the Breton team since 2018, Jérémy Lecroq is initially integrated into the train launching Bryan Coquard in the sprint. In time, he has proven to be more than a model teammate. This year in the sprint, he makes two tops 10 during the Saudi Tour and two fourth places during the Boucles de la Mayenne. SATURDAY 2 July, during the stage between Roskilde and Nyborg, Jérémy Lecroq takes a good seventh place, promising for the rest of the Tour.
He is also a big fan of track cycling.. In 2018, he notably became French champion in the team pursuit. Specialist in the Flandrian classics and talented in the sprint, Jérémy Lecroq still has a few opportunities to showcase his talent during this Tour de France 2022. He can also benefit from the advice of his teammate Pierre Rolland, the most experienced rider in the peloton with 12 departures of the Grande Boucle and as many arrivals in Paris.
Geoffrey Bouchard, the talented hobbyist
© Getty Images
There is no age to discover the Tour de France, but especially cycling. Indeed, it's this friday, at 30 years, that Geoffrey Bouchard made his first pedal strokes on the Grande Boucle. But when we look at the past of this AG2R Citroën Team rider, Nothing suprising. It is only in 2018 that the native of Dijon enters professional cycling. Until that year, he combines a job at Decathlon with the practice of amateur cycling. The year 2018 is a real turning point in his career, because he becomes French amateur champion. He also won the Tour d'Alsace (ahead of Marc Hirschi and Brandon McNulty in particular) and many other amateur races.
The AG2R staff spotted him and decided to offer him a professional contract.. Since then, Geoffrey Bouchard delivers excellent results thanks to his climbing skills. He thus won the classification of the best climber of the Vuelta 2019, then the Giro 2021. In addition to being an excellent climber, Bouchard is able to win alone as in the first stage of the Tour des Alpes 2022 where he attacks 25 kilometers from the finish. Geoffrey Bouchard must therefore wait a few more days before fully expressing his talent., when the step profiles will be more rugged.
The first three stages of this Tour de France 2022, in an atmosphere of madness, were a brief preview for our five riders of this great cycling celebration. But what emerges from the interviews conducted with them, pleasure has always been there. We can only wish them as much fun when the roads rise. They are left 18 stages to honor their selection on the Grande Boucle, and make their team colors shine, and France. Courage gentlemen!
