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Daily Tribune
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
French hopes rise despite Tour wait
AFP | Paris After a superb Tour de France raced entirely on French soil, there is plenty for the host nation to cheer about but the absence of a French winner remains a national sore point. It is 40 years since Bernard Hinault won the last of his five Tours de France. Since then the host nation has waited -- not always patiently -- for a successor. But this year has produced some cheer for the home fans as they look ahead. It's true that none of the five French teams on the roster landed either a stage win or a place on the final podium but Valentin Paret - Peintre produced some heroics to grab a memorable stage win on Mont Ven - toux. On top of that, Kevin Vauquelin and Jordan Jegat both finished in the top 10, while Vauquelin and Lenny Martinez, just 22, wore the white and polka dot jerseys -- for best under-26 rider and best climber respectively -- for spells. It doesn't hide the lack of a winner but it was enough to make former French champion Bernard Thevenet guardedly positive about future home ambitions. Thevenet, who won the world's greatest bike race in 1975 and 1977, told AFP during this year's contest -- won superbly by the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar for the fourth time -- that the emerging riders were about to join the top table. 'We have good riders in France, obviously not as superb as Tadej Pogacar but this happens,' Thevenet said. 'We really thought Lenny Martinez might get the king of the mountains jersey, he gave us a bit of hope. But he couldn't take it all the way,' the 77-yearold said, a day after Pogacar took it off the French youngster. He also spoke of his joy at Paret-Peintre winning on Mont Ventoux. 'It was great to see him emerge like that, how he pulled that win off. He did well,' said Thevenet. Paret-Peintre himself said he had learned a winning mentality by joining a Belgian team. 'Belgium is more about classics than Grand Tours, so I learned this do-or-die attitude and it made the difference,' he said. Young hope Thevenet cautioned however that the young French riders on the Tour this year will not be the ones who deliver France from its 40-year wait for a winner. 'The new generation are not on the same level as Romain Bardet or Thibaut Pinot,' he said of two recently retired climbers who had the misfortune to be riding at the same time as four-time winner Chris Froome. 'And It will be a while before we get a win or someone on the podium,' he said. Thevenet, however, has seen two riders who he believes may be the ones to end the French famine. 'Paul Seixas is 18, he isn't here on the Tour but he will be. And within five years he'll be on the podium,' he said. 'There's also a great up-andcoming sprinter, Paul Magnier, and you can see him winning stages when he rides the Tour.' While Hinault's victory in 1985 was the last time France had a Tour winner, La Vie Claire were the last French team to win when American rider Greg LeMond secured his first title in 1986 -- with his teammate Hinault in second. After 112 editions of the world's greatest bike race, France has garnered 36 overall wins from 21 cyclists, and remain top of the heap in that respect.
Straits Times
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
France's long wait for a Tour de France winner goes on, but Bernard Thevenet sees hope
Find out what's new on ST website and app. (From left) France's Minister for Sports, Youth, and Community Life Marie Barsacq watches as former French cyclist Bernard Thevenet recieves an award from general director of the Tour de France Christian Prudhomme on July 27. PARIS – After a superb Tour de France raced entirely on French soil, there is plenty for the host nation to cheer about but the absence of a French winner remains a national sore point. It is 40 years since Bernard Hinault won the last of his five Tours de France. Since then, the host nation has waited – not always patiently – for a successor. But 2025 has produced some cheer for the home fans as they look ahead. It is true that none of the five French teams on the roster landed either a stage win or a place on the final podium but Valentin Paret-Peintre produced some heroics to grab a memorable stage win on Mont Ventoux. On top of that, Kevin Vauquelin and Jordan Jegat both finished in the top 10, while Vauquelin and Lenny Martinez, just 22, wore the white and polka dot jerseys – for best under-26 rider and best climber respectively – for spells. It does not hide the lack of a winner but it was enough to make former French champion Bernard Thevenet guardedly positive about future home ambitions. Thevenet, who won the world's greatest bicycle race in 1975 and 1977, told AFP during the 2025 contest – won superbly by the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar for the fourth time – that the emerging riders were about to join the top table. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Asia Gunman kills 5 security guards near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Singapore HPB looking for vaping, smoking counselling services for up to 175 secondary school students Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose Singapore Police statements by doctor in fake vaccine case involving Iris Koh allowed in court: Judge Singapore Woman allegedly linked to case involving pre-schooler's sexual assault given stern warning Singapore Singapore lion dance troupe retains title at Genting World championship Singapore SMRT reports unauthorised post on its X account, says investigation under way 'We have good riders in France, obviously not as superb as Tadej Pogacar, but this happens,' Thevenet said. 'We really thought Lenny Martinez might get the king of the mountains jersey, he gave us a bit of hope. But he couldn't take it all the way,' the 77-year-old added, a day after Pogacar took it off the French youngster. He also spoke of his joy at Paret-Peintre winning on Mont Ventoux. 'It was great to see him emerge like that, how he pulled that win off. He did well,' said Thevenet. Paret-Peintre himself said he had learned a winning mentality by joining a Belgian team. 'Belgium is more about classics than Grand Tours, so I learned this do-or-die attitude and it made the difference,' he said. Thevenet cautioned, however, that the young French riders on the Tour in 2025 will not be the ones who deliver France from its 40-year wait for a winner. 'The new generation are not on the same level as Romain Bardet or Thibaut Pinot,' he said of two recently retired climbers, who had the misfortune to be riding at the same time as four-time winner Chris Froome. 'And It will be a while before we get a win or someone on the podium,' he said. Thevenet, however, has seen two riders who he believes may be the ones to end the French famine. 'Paul Seixas is 18, he isn't here on the Tour but he will be. And within five years he'll be on the podium,' he said. 'There's also a great up-and-coming sprinter, Paul Magnier, and you can see him winning stages when he rides the Tour.' While Hinault's victory in 1985 was the last time France had a Tour winner, La Vie Claire were the last French team to win when American rider Greg LeMond secured his first title in 1986 – with his teammate Hinault in second. After 112 editions of the world's greatest bike race, France has garnered 36 overall wins from 21 cyclists, and remain top of the heap in that respect. Thevenet said French teams have a problem with financing, taxes and other reasons and cannot compete directly with Pogacar's state-funded UAE Team Emirates. But French outfit Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale have attracted a new partnership with a shipping company, which will give them a far bigger budget. 'This should level the playing field a bit,' said Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme. Thevenet's great French hope Seixas is on Decathlon's books and they are priming themselves for a tilt at the top. 'Our goal is to enter the top five and then the top three worldwide and to win the Tour de France by 2030,' said team boss Dominique Serieys. AFP
Scotsman
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Who is the richest cyclist 2025? Here are the 11 all-time wealthiest professional cyclists
3 . George Hincapie - $40 million Another drugs cheat comes third on our list. American George Hincapie started a record Tours de France, but admitted to doping and was retrospectively disqualified from the 2004, 2005 and 2006 races. Furing his careers he was a key domestique (a cyclist in a road racing team whose role is to help their team leader during a race) for race winners Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador and Cadel Evans in 2011, when both men won the Tour de France. He was also the owner and general manager of UCI Professional Continental team until it folded in 2020. He has a net worth of around $40 million. | Getty Images
The National
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Kelso cyclist Oscar Onley climbs Tour de France rankings
Oscar Onley, a 22-year-old from Borders town Kelso, has been making waves at this year's tournament with standout performances that have highlighted his rising status in international cycling. In Tuesday's Stage 4, a 174km route from Amiens to Rouen, Onley finished an impressive fourth, crossing the line just slightly behind some of the sport's biggest names – Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, and Jonas Vingegaard. READ MORE: Met Office warns Scots against going 'taps aff' as temperatures to hit 30 degrees All four riders completed the stage in exactly three hours, 50 minutes and 29 seconds, with Onley narrowly missing out on a podium finish by milliseconds. Speaking to Cycling Weekly about his positioning, Onley said: 'It's not really sunk in yet. It's always nice to be racing against these guys. 'I really get a kick out of racing against the top guys, so it's always good fun.' He addressed the challenge of competing against two riders who have won the last five Tours de France between them and whose teams have claimed nearly a third of the stage victories in that period. When asked by the sports publication if it felt demoralising to chase wins against such well-established opponents, Onley said no. 'Maybe because I'm young, I'm naive and I still think that I can do anything,' he said. His fourth-place finish on Stage 4 – his best result so far – suggests he's close to living up to that belief. He continued: 'I don't want to get ahead of myself – I know my place, and it's a different story on other climbs.' Explaining his approach to the race, Onley said: 'I'm just trying to get results, whether that's stages or overall, in the end, we'll see after three weeks. 'It's really just [about] picking the days that suit me and going all in for them, and trying to relax on the days that aren't so important.' READ MORE: 'I'm so sorry': Yungblud cancels Scottish show and album launch The result came after a solid sixth-place finish on Stage 2, a 209km stretch from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer, which propelled Onley to seventh place in the overall general classification, 55 seconds behind the race leader. By the conclusion of Stage 4, Onley maintained his position in the general classification, tied for seventh with Joao Almeida, highlighting his consistency in this Grand Tour. Onley's Tour de France success builds on an already impressive 2025 season. Earlier this year, he won a stage at the Tour de Suisse and finished third overall. He also claimed fourth place at the Tour Down Under and fifth at the UAE Tour. Riding for Team Picnic PostNL, Onley has showcased his climbing ability and race intelligence, making him a key contender to watch as the race progresses. With the first individual time trial scheduled for Stage 5 on Wednesday, his performance in the sport will be closely observed as it could be crucial to his overall Tour de France ambitions.
The Age
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Lance Armstrong is back, but he should be banned from any association with cycling
Nonetheless, that indelible image of Armstrong kickin' back in his study, seven framed yellow jerseys still hanging on the wall, years after his name was stricken from the record books. Defiance, in the face of certainty and reason. Why is any of this relevant in 2025? Pogačar was a seven-year-old the last time Armstrong stood victorious, cloaked in yellow on the Champs-Élysées. Because Armstrong is back (if indeed he ever went away). Not as a cyclist. Not as a coach or a team owner. But as a sponsor. As someone who wants to hitch his trailer to the commerciality of pro cycling. Armstrong these days has shape-shifted to becoming a podcaster. His podcast, THEMOVE, on professional cycling, triathlon and other endurance sports, fairly kills it. Apparently. One of Armstrong's joint venturers on this new media is George Hincapie. A former teammate of Armstrong's, whose name appears not less than 287 times in USADA's reasoned decision concerning Armstrong (I counted), because Hincapie's sworn testimony, including regarding his own use of prohibited substances, was one of the evidentiary planks on which Armstrong was banned for life. Hincapie had retired by August 2012. For his part, he nonetheless was suspended for six months in late 2012 for his misconduct. His personal results achieved in past Tours de France while he was doping were expunged. But now, in addition to being a podcaster, Hincapie is the owner of Modern Adventure Pro Cycling. A new US team with the stated aim of eventually, but within a short timeframe, obtaining a first division pro licence from cycling's international federation, the UCI. That licence would in turn permit Modern Adventure's entry to pro cycling's greatest single-day races and grand tours. The Tour de France included. The question then becomes one of how can this be allowed to happen? How could Armstrong's podcast insignia have the potential to be splashed across the livery of a pro cycling team that might one day compete on the sport's biggest stage? USADA's sanction of a period of lifetime ineligibility and disqualification of all competitive results that Armstrong achieved, since 1998, remains in force. No appeal has shifted that life sentence. Ineligibility by definition in anti-doping terms means that a person so sanctioned is barred, on account of their anti-doping rule violations, for a specified period of time from participating in any competition or other activity. If Armstrong had been sanctioned for his misconduct not as an athlete but as a coach, manager or other non-athlete personnel, his lifetime ban would be caught by the prohibited association rules appearing in the WADA Code. Those make it a separate offence for an athlete to continue to associate with a coach, for example, who is serving a ban for doping. But because Armstrong was sanctioned as an athlete, and not a coach, those prohibited association rules don't apply. Which is an endpoint that highlights a glaring gap in WADA's rules. USADA's reasoned decision is constructed on the foundation of witness statements and affidavits received from more than two dozen fellow professional cyclists and non-riding staff from Armstrong's US Postal team. Fairly put, Armstrong wasn't merely a doper. If he were, he'd not have been banned for life. Instead, Armstrong was a conniving standover merchant who demanded not only that his misdeeds be smothered, but that many other cyclists faithfully commit to an orchestrated and systemic doping program under a code of silence – otherwise they would be cut from his team. USADA's reasoned decision records that Armstrong 'acted with the help of a small army of enablers, including doping doctors, drug smugglers, and others within and outside the sport and on his team'. What the USADA determination says next though, is more telling: 'the evidence is also clear that Armstrong had ultimate control over not only his own personal drug use, which was extensive, but also over the doping culture of his team. Final responsibility for decisions to hire and retain a director, doctors and other staff committed to running a team-wide doping program ultimately flowed to him.' USADA goes on, 'His goal led him to depend on EPO [Erythropoietin; a natural hormone produced by the kidney that stimulates the production of red blood cells], testosterone and blood transfusions but also, more ruthlessly, to expect and to require that his teammates would likewise use drugs to support his goals if not their own. 'The evidence is overwhelming that Lance Armstrong did not just use performance-enhancing drugs, he supplied them to his teammates … [and] he also required that they adhere to the doping program outlined for them or be replaced.' Armstrong wasn't just a menacing coach exercising power over trusting, young and inexperienced athletes susceptible to subtle manipulation. If he were, the prohibited association provisions of the WADA Code would see to it that Armstrong couldn't sponsor a pro cycling team. Loading Armstrong was much worse. He strong-armed and bullied with impunity. He demanded of others that they also must break all the rules, lest he'd smash their career to smithereens. He exercised greater power over his fellow athletes than team principals, coaches and doctors ever could on their own. You could forgive Armstrong for his own doping: he's hardly Robinson Crusoe after all. What can't however, be forgotten is the malevolent intent; the single-minded viciousness and the destructive consequences inflicted by him, on countless others caught in his orbit. Whether you can forgive Armstrong for all that is one thing. It's quite another though, to countenance the idea that he somehow be a sponsor of anyone's future success.
