Romain Bardet is expected to focus on stage wins at La Vuelta 2023

There has been a lot of controversy within the cycling world about talented French climbers focusing Tour de France GC, often to the harm of their own goals and personal ambitions.

When this topic comes up, names of Thibaut Pinot and Romain Bardet usually cross your mind. Both combined finished on podium in Paris several times in their prime, but never really came close to winning the whole race.

After few years of struggle this lead their employers, traditional French teams to eventually recognize that change was on the menu. Marc Madiot switched his attention to young Breton David Gaudu, while AG2R found their GC ambitions in Austrian Felix Gall and Australian Ben O'Connor.

While Pinot stayed at FDJ to guide his successor towards brighter future and will retire at the end of 2023 after one of his best seasons in years, including 5th place and KOM jersey at Giro d'Italia, Bardet separated his way with AG2R at the end of 2020 in hopes of finding purpose with Dutch Team DSM.

Since then we've seen a bit different Bardet, who's been trying different schedules in order to find his perfect balance, and this won't change at upcoming Vuelta a Espana.

Romain Bardet who left Tour de France early in the third week with concussion will ride the final grand tour of 2023 with focus on stages rather than GC, Daniel Benson reports.