It was when he came down from the podium, beaming with his yellow jersey, that he best expressed the significance of the event. “I’ve waited my entire career for this moment…” Solemnly but without tears. In his own way, moved but rational. Like Sisyphus, Romain Bardet devoted ten years of his life, imposing one of the highest standards in the peloton, to get close to this famous jersey. When he finally gave it up, to enjoy the Grande Boucle one last time – he will retire at the end of the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2025 – to enjoy what he had endured for so long, the 33-year-old climber from Auvergne achieved his goal by winning the first stage.
