"I'm pleased to be honoured in this way in my last full season" - Romain Bardet awarded Bernard Hinault Trophy at 2024 Velo d'Or ceremony

In the final full campaign of his professional career, Romain Bardet looked as good as ever, putting in a number of notable performances. As a result, the 34-year-old of Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL took home the Bernard Hinault Trophy at the 2024 Velo d'Or ceremony for best French rider of the year.

"I'm used to saying that you never fight to become the best Frenchman, but it's still an honour, a few years after my last trophy," reflected a grateful Bardet on stage, after having been handed the award by 80s and 90s icon of French cycling, Charly Mottet. "It symbolises a longevity and emulation that I have continued to nurture, racing alongside a young guard who are really at the forefront of the scene and carrying this French bike that I gladly leave in very, very good hands."

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For a while, it looked as if Bardet would be the man to end the long wait for a French winner of the Tour de France, finishing 2nd in 2016, 3rd in 2017 and winning the King of the Mountains in 2019. It wasn't until 2024, following the fourth Tour de France stage victory of his career that Bardet finally managed to get his hands on the Maillot Jaune though.

Bardet wore the Maillot Jaune for the first time in his career at the 2024 Tour de France

Attacking on the opening stage of the Tour de France earlier this summer, Bardet and Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL teammate Frank van den Broek incredibly held off the charging bunch sprint from the peloton to take the stage victory and for Bardet, kick off his final home Grand Tour in perfect style by taking the first Maillot Jaune of his career. 

"It's often said that France is a great cycling nation, and we'd like to be nominated for more of the world's Vélo d'Or finalists, but I think we're fighting with our weapons. I'm also pleased to see parity among the female finalists, which hasn't been the case at all in recent years," concluded Bardet's acceptance speech. "I'm pleased to be honoured in this way in my last full season."

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