Julien Moreau // Photo credits: Silvia Colombo / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP
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2:24 p.m., June 30, 2023
At 35, Tony Gallopin will participate in his 11th Tour de France. The native of Dourdan, in Essonne, has made millions of French people dream for more than ten years on the roads of the Grande Boucle, during a month that he particularly likes. Winner of a stage and wearing the mythical yellow jersey in 2014, the Trek-Segafredo rider cut short many summer naps with the edge of his attacks. This year, despite his fourth place in the French championships, proof that he is in great shape, the Frenchman has lowered his ambitions.
“Me, personally, I don’t really have any ambitions anymore. The form is always, more or less, good. It’s just that now, I have completely reconverted myself into my role as road captain. is also the reason why I am participating in the Tour de France this year. I am doing my job well as a team member, I am always there to support my leaders, “said Tony Gallopin at the microphone of Europe 1. ” I know what awaits me on the next Tour de France, helping my teammates, whether for the sprints with Mads Pedersen and in the mountains for Mattias Skjelmose or Giulio Ciccone”, he added.
Precisely, this role of road captain, an experienced runner who teaches young people the basics of racing, suits him perfectly. “I had very good years where I had a lot of personal ambitions. Four years ago, I had some sporting disappointments, I understood that I was starting to have trouble performing at the highest level. Finally, instead of continuing to persist in wanting to achieve results, I had this opportunity to come to Trek-Segafredo as a road captain. To be able to work for young leaders, I liked that, I am fulfilled and I am very good in this role”, explained the fourth of the last championship of France.
Several maps for the Trek-Segafredo
If the 35-year-old rider has no personal ambitions, the Trek-Segafredo team will have several cards to perform on the roads of the Grande Boucle. “Mattias Skjelmose has proven great things, he won the Tour de Suisse, he has just won the Danish championship. He is in great shape, it is clear that he is going to be one of the red threads of the team. I’ve done a lot of races with him since the start of the season. I’m very supportive of him and I’m going to support him for three weeks,” explained the runner from the American team.
Speaking of Mattias Skjelmose, winner of the Tour de Suisse ahead of Juan Ayuso and Remco Evenepoel, Tony Gallopin believes that he perfectly embodies the new generation, modern cycling. “He has a lot of self-confidence. He leaves nothing out, he leaves nothing to chance. It’s nice to have him as a teammate. He knows how to do everything, he knows how to rub (note: sneaking into the peloton) , rolling, sprinting and climbing. He’s a super talent and when we have leaders like that, it makes things easier for us”, reported Gallopin at the microphone of Europe 1. His emergence comes at the same time as the evolution of the world cycling.
“There has been a big evolution over the past four years. The talent is still there, but things have evolved in terms of professionalism. The way of racing has also evolved. I did classics at a time when riders were very wait-and-see , we were waiting for the last mountain, the last climb. Now, it’s quite impressive, the race settles down 100 or even 150 kilometers from the finish. In stage races, they attack, they win all the stages, the classification general,” Gallopin reported.
“I learn a lot of things every day”
The one who begins his 16 seasons with the professionals continues to learn things with these young people who are sometimes 15 years younger than him: “I learn a lot of things on a daily basis. Training level, recovery level, nutrition level, they know it much more than me. Now, the scale at the table, it has become a common thing when I had never weighed a gram of food. Now they are used to doing that.”
What is certain is that this Tour de France 2023 promises to be spectacular. “It’s going to be a great Tour de France, there are a lot of open stages. I think on paper, there’s everything you need for it to be a magnificent Tour de France.”
Regarding the podium, the French launched into a prognosis. “Pogacar, Vingegaard and Skjelmose”. See you in three weeks to find out if the native of Dourdan is an excellent bettor.