Geraint Thomas, the anti-hero turned king

News Mondays - Nicolas Jutzet

After long weeks of effort, it's all over! The history of the one-hundred-and-fifth Tour de France is written. 3351 km later, the surprises are many, as are the disappointments and injuries. As always, in the end. Will the unexpected victory of Welshman Geraint Thomas, the model team-mate par excellence, be good for a sport that seems to be at the end of its tether? Nothing is less certain. At thirty-two years of age, the man is far from being the embodiment of the future.

Team Sky stronger than the competition

Booed for doping suspicions, his team, the British superpower Sky, and his leader Christopher Froome, were eagerly awaited. As a reminder, the Froome affair followed an abnormal salbutamol test. In the end, the rider was cleared. But the suspicion remains. Fans - who sometimes verged on physical aggression on the Tour's roads - organizers and journalists alike struggled to conceal their dismay at this latest setback for a sport which, after a series of scandals, now claims to be clean. It's hard even for die-hard fans to believe.

However, perhaps under the impact of the negative climate and after a preparation that was inevitably disrupted by the twists and turns of the affair, the favorite Froome gradually faded into the background, in favor of a more dashing teammate, a sort of quiet force coming of age. Finally. Never really in danger, the new hero finally won with a comfortable lead of over two minutes over his runner-up, Tom Dumoulin.

History seems to be repeating itself. Now leader of Team Sky to the detriment of then-hero Bradley Wiggins, Christopher Froome must in turn suffer the affront of internal degradation. At thirty-three, he looks tired, his best years behind him. For the Tour, this renewal of faces may finally herald a real change, particularly in terms of image, for the general public. New riders, new faces and confirmation that cycling is now a sport that has rid itself of its demons. For despite the negative aspects, there are many reasons to be passionate about these superhuman efforts.

Once again this year, there were some great stories. For example, Primož Roglič, the former jumper who became a feared outsider, or Julian Alaphilippe's excellent turn in the polka-dot jersey. Not to mention the almost mechanical hegemony of the fantastic Peter Sagan, who seems to be at the top of his game. He sprints faster than his shadow. On another note, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe's visit in the midst of the Benalla affair will also be remembered by the more political-minded as a key moment in recent weeks.

For others, the victory of a British team and its leader Welsh on French soil, in the midst of a Brexit that France hopes to turn into a comparative advantage for its financial center, acts as a sarcastic wink of fate. One thing's for sure: the Tour caravan is turning off the engine and preparing for a 2019 Tour that's more open than ever! In the meantime, we'll know more about both Brexit and the Philippe government and its ability to manage... business.

Write to the author : nicolas.jutzet@leregardlibre.com