Romain Bardet (Team DSM), 11th in the stage: “I preferred to resume my rhythm otherwise…”
“It’s not a great day, I caught a heat stroke in the middle of the Alpe. I started to have chills, to feel the pulse beating in my temples, so I preferred to resume my rhythm otherwise I risked exploding completely. It didn’t play out much because they weren’t going faster in front, but maybe I should have positioned myself a little better.
(On the mood) It was magical, I was very encouraged all day. I felt that my legs were hard all the same, but the atmosphere was great.
(On having resumed his rhythm in Alpe d’Huez) It’s a matter of management. If I kept going at a high pace, I knew I could explode. When I recovered, I knew I could hold out until the finish. On the Tour de France, on the days when you are less well, you have to know how to round your back and endure. »
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), 13th on the stage: “I lack a bit of confidence”
“It was tough with the heat. It sucks, I don’t have confidence in myself and I’m afraid of exploding and suddenly I go up at my own pace when I could have hooked them in front. Since the Dauphiné, I lack a little confidence. I finished the last two kilometers strong. But we missed the mark today. It’s not over, we’re only at the 12th stage and I know that in the third week I generally feel good. We are not going to panic, confidence will return.
(On his initial goal on the 12th stage) I wanted to follow the best all day. Afterwards I had this lack of confidence, also linked to the heat. We will try to recover and focus on the 3rd week. »
Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), winner of the stage: “It was the right scenario”
“It’s one of my best experiences. It’s just amazing… Getting my first victory in the Tour de France in Alpe d’Huez! This morning, we wanted to be in the breakaway. I knew I had to hold on in the Galibier to come back downhill. If I hadn’t been able to go down so quickly, I wouldn’t have been able to come back. It was the right script. It took four to five minutes on foot (from Alpe d’Huez) to be able to win. The climb to Alpe d’Huez? I’ve never seen that, the spectators, the flags… There’s nothing stronger. »
Thibault Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), 20th in the stage: “It was complicated to get supplies in Alpe d’Huez”
“I tried to attack at the start but it was really weird to take the breakaway. I missed a little to accompany David (Gaudu) further. It was frustrating because today I had some legs.
It was very hot, it was difficult to get supplies in Alpe d’Huez. We will continue, there are still some good stages to go, David is still in the game so even if we are a little disappointed today, there is still plenty to do on the Tour. There will be tough stages with a lot of heat so there will still be surprises. It would be good if we went for a stage victory and David continued to do what he was doing all the way to Paris. It’s always so much thrills to climb the Alpe, I think everyone loved it. »
Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), 19th on the stage: “A little something is often missing”
“I had a stroke of heat, I had no more water after a few kilometers and I had trouble refueling so when it let me down, it really let me down. Now, we are going to recover, there are some great stages to come. We hope for better but in the result we are really satisfied. It often lacks a little something but the Tour is still very long and we will be able to test ourselves and we hope for a stage victory for the team.
(On refueling) We drink so many cans quickly that we are also quickly against the tide. It was difficult.
(On the heat) You have to recover well, hydrate well, you will have to pay attention to the failures on the next stages. »
Florian Sénéchal (Quick-Step), 150th in the stage: “I had a great moment in cycling”
“I was alone in the climb of Alpe d’Huez, it was great even if I was a little tough. I had a great time cycling.
At first it was hard, we had to stay together with Fabio, we were all in the valleys. At the foot of the Alpe, Fabio told me to go. It is true that it was hot but afterwards when we arrive at the top of the mountain there is a little more freshness. And the supporters, that’s a lot, it makes you forget the pain in your legs. »