Bernard Hinault's advice to Tadej Pogacar: "I would make all my physiological data public"
Cycling
It has now been 39 years since the Tour de France was last won by a French rider, Bernard Hinault who turned 70 years old today. In a special occasion, he shared words regarding his legacy, meeting the new French winner of the Tour and also the suspicions on Tadej Pogacar.
"I can't help but see myself on the bike again. I would have liked to race against Tadej Pogacar, but also against Eddy Merckx or Jacques Anqueti," Hinault said in words to L'Équipe. He was the final rider from the French nation to have won the greatest race of the sport, whose current reigning champion is Tadej Pogacar - someone whose raised a lot of questions this year due to his tremendous performances.
The French legend adresses the doping topic and the Slovenian: "Often these are just interpretations, always negative. I don't understand that. Why don't we ask these questions to French top athletes, who win everything in other sports like Pogacar? In other countries there are no doubts about him. In his place I would make all my physiological data public, that would calm everyone down.'
For his part, the legend has said that he would like to live up to 100 years old and still get to meet his successor when it comes to the next Tour de France title. It will already be 40 years next year where the French stand little chances, but the nation does have some new up and coming talents who may make it dream once again after the likes of Romain Bardet, Thibaut Pinot and Jean-Cristophe Peraud have done in the last decade.
"It has never bothered me to repeat myself, to talk about my victories. It makes people dream, because we don't do that enough in France. People don't believe me when I say I can't wait to meet my successor in the Tour de France. It will be 40 years next year, that's too long. I'd like to meet him before I'm gone," Hinault concluded.
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- Thanks Dadmobk22-12-2024
- Hard to believe with the advancment of modern medicine he can not find a cause for this.frieders321-12-2024
- You continue to platform these two cheats. With that in mind I can no longer use your site. I know my leaving means little, but, sometimes you have to take a stand. See ya!DJ21-12-2024
- Look at what Froome’s won since his last TdF, stop denying there is still more than possible one outcome to the future.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Bruyneel understands nothing about clean competition.Sweep21-12-2024
- Exactly. Remco won 3 WT races/stages last year compared to Pogocar's 19. Remco's single stage win in last years TdF earned him a meager 12 seconds over Pogocar who shellac'd him by 9 minutes in GC.Sweep21-12-2024
- Fortunately and as you point out, more than one strategy is possible and worth trying and I’m sure all concerned riders are well informed and counselled on this subject and don’t need such basic personal advice through media from an outsider.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- The main SPOTY award is "decided" by public vote but the BBC "expert panel" decide who you can choose from, that choice has an equal split of genders and is focussed on the sports BBC show and a disabled athlete. Oh yea the ubiquitous "Pub Games" candidate there too, Darts and Snooker are not sports. The other awards are decided by the "Expert Panel" again it's about the sports BBC show, cycling has had it. Cav got his for his years and achievements in the sport, not just that 35th TDF win. Unless the BBC get access to Pro Cycling it will never feature "adequately" on SPOTYslappers6621-12-2024
- Ahhh..... you have to understand the "strange" diversity concepts of the BBCslappers6621-12-2024
- Avoiding him is a good strategy, you get more wins and then you can compete in the TDF relatively relaxed. Pit yourself against Pogi and not only there will be no wins, it will be considerable mental setbackabstractengineer21-12-2024