Merci, Romain.
A short ode to Romain Bardet
926th professional race day.
The last one in his career.
We say goodbye today. We say goodbye to a cyclist who was a model of chivalry. Someone who has done so much for French cycling and whose presence has had a huge impact on the current generation of 20-, 21-, and 22-year-olds, who have brought about a rapid rise in French cycling and continue to do so today.
I have only positive memories of Romain Bardet. His first truly memorable victory for me was the Dauphiné stage victory at Pra-Loup in 2015, with a 22 km solo ride ahead of Tejay van Garderen and Chris Froome. He made a name for himself there, and anyone who can pull off something like that is an excellent cyclist. The next three years were the peak – three Tour de France editions, three stage victories (with two GC podiums, as well), the most memorable of which for me was the 2017 uphill sprint in Peyragudes, where he showed how important recon is in the sport and what an amazing puncheur he is.
Of course, the French began to hope that he would bring them victory in the Tour de France, but he couldn't cope with the empire, which was still a real empire at the time. But somehow I don't regret it at all. Mainly because he is such a good cyclist and has been such a good team player throughout his career, especially in the second half, which he spent with the DSM/Picnic/Sunweb team. He has been an incredible mentor to the climber generation over the last three years, who may keep the team in the WorldTour, while Bardet also had his successes - especially the best Grand Tour opening day of the decade, which he won together with Frank van den Broek, after which Bardet was able to take the yellow jersey, something he had never had the opportunity to do before. I still have tears in my eyes from these moments.
In addition, Bardet was the guardian angel of the peloton. In most cases, he was the first and sometimes the only one to stop next to a fallen rider, trying to help him in any way he could, a concept that is rare in today's generation. I really hope that someone will take over this role from him in the future. Today is his last race, but I hope we will still see him in some role within the sport.
Until then: Merci, Romain. For everything.
#MerciRomain