"I haven't felt 100 percent" - Romain Bardet explains his disappointing attempt at a podium challenge
CyclingThursday, 13 July 2023 at 10:30
Alongside David Gaudu, Romain Bardet was viewed as the big French hope for the 2023 Tour de France. Sadly for the Team DSM-Firmenich leader and the French fans, Bardet sits in 11th after 11 stages, 6:58 down on the Maillot Jaune.
“It is not yet exceptional in terms of results in this Tour, but I have yet to find my best health," the 32-year-old former three-time Tour de France stage winner and former King of the Mountains winner at his own Grand Tour, says in an interview with Cyclism'Actu. "I still have some minor issues to resolve. I haven't felt 100 percent since last weekend."
Although being unable to end the long wait for a French winner of the Tour de France, Bardet has been one of the most successful French riders in the modern era of the race. The aforementioned stage wins and King of the Mountains victory, two appearances on the podium in 2016 and 2017 with a total of six top 10 appearances.
As the Tour de France enters the Alps, French fans will be hoping that Bardet will able to refind his best legs and start climbing up the general classification.
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- Starting all 3 vs finishing all 3, which makes what Sepp Kuss did in 2023 very impressive.
Front24209-01-2026 - It'd be good to see these back on the Classics 👍
leedorney09-01-2026 - it will be interesting to see his results when he steps into the bigger races. 19 wins, but so many in the fall in mid level races. still the mid races need to be won to step up to the biggies.mij09-01-2026
- Looks like his poor health just stomped on the rear mech of his cycling career.Onepiece09-01-2026
- she is so good. even her results from 2025, which were “bad”, would be a career year for most riders. and consider at MSR, for example, her teammate won - perhaps Lotte could have won it. wishing her the best for 2026!mij09-01-2026
- bummer - he was fun to watch and was young. had a lot left in him.mij09-01-2026
- What a fairytale day! Everything fell into place.mhfrvz09-01-2026
- Not sure you can say that someone as talented and successful as him has had bad luck, but between coming along right after the two titans and now this, his is a career cut short. Perhaps he can transition to a different role in the sport, but in any case I wish him well.MidnightRider08-01-2026
- I doubt it. This blows a hole in their ranks.mobk08-01-2026
- For a while there, Eli was the best of the rest in cyclocross behind Mathieu and Wout. It must be tough to be forced to retire early due to medical issues, but good health trumps everything else. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.
santiagobenites08-01-2026
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That was another nervous and hard fought finale with @sam_welsford pushing to the line for a 10th place in Moulins.👍🏻 #KeepChallenging #TDF2023
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