French Riders Set to Shine in Tour de France 2024
The upcoming Tour de France promises a thrilling spectacle with a significant French presence. With 32 French riders making up 18% of the peloton, the blue-white-red colors will be prominent throughout the race. This year's lineup includes seasoned veterans, promising young talents, and riders with a history of stage victories.
Key French Contenders and Their Teams
Christophe Laporte, at 31 years old, will be a key figure, riding alongside reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard for Team Visma-Lease a Bike. Pavel Sivakov, who gained French sporting nationality in 2022, will represent UAE Team Emirates. Meanwhile, Groupama-FDJ will field a strong team with David Gaudu, Romain Grégoire, Lenny Martinez, Valentin Madouas, Quentin Pacher, and Clément Russo.
Veterans and Newcomers
Romain Bardet, a notable veteran, will participate in his eleventh and final Tour de France. Bardet, who achieved his best result as second place in 2016, aims to make his last appearance memorable. On the other hand, young talents like Lenny Martinez, who will compete in his first Tour de France, bring fresh energy and potential surprises to the race. The French team Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, with recent French champions Paul Lapeira and Bruno Armirail, is poised for a strong performance across various stages.
- TotalEnergies will have the most French riders, with seven participants including Mathieu Burgaudeau, Anthony Turgis, and Jordan Jegat. Cofidis, with Guillaume Martin and Bryan Coquard, and Arkéa-B&B Hotels, featuring Arnaud Démare, will also have strong French representations.
- Guillaume Martin of Cofidis remains flexible with his goals, aiming for either a stage victory or a distinctive jersey depending on his performance in the initial days. David Gaudu, on the other hand, is focused on the general classification, with his team Groupama-FDJ aiming for stage victories and overall success.
- Veteran sprinters Arnaud Démare and Bryan Coquard, both 32 years old, are expected to excel in the flat stages, though winning the green jersey may be challenging against strong competitors like Jasper Philipsen. The inclusion of young rider Lenny Martinez in the FDJ lineup has generated excitement, with the 20-year-old ready to make an impact in his second Grand Tour.
