After 13 seasons spent at the highest level in the world, Romain Bardet will hang up his bicycle for good at the end of the Criterium du Dauphiné on June 15. The French climber spoke to Eurosport, particularly about his vision of modern cycling.
Romain Bardet (34 years old) is preparing to begin the final chapter of his professional cycling career which will end at the end of Critérium du Dauphiné 2025on June 15. The day after Saitama Criterium (Japan), theAuvergne spoke with Eurosport France. On this occasion, the wearer of the 1st yellow jersey of Tour de France 2024 returned to his season, but to the phenomenon Tadej Pogacar and his vision of current cycling which, according to him, flirts more and more with the limits.
Romain Bardet: “The feeling of having done the trick”
As usual, Romain Bardet finds the right words to illustrate the state of mind that has been his for several years now. “I had to externalize a situation and a feeling that had been underlying for many months. I wanted to relaunch my career after leaving AG2R training but I had started on a two-year cycle. As soon as I turned 30, I operated in the short term. I was able to project myself without needing to hide it. I always had this idea of telling myself not to do what we call one year too long. Although we change a lot of ingredients on a daily basis, after 13 years on the World Tour we find ourselves in a certain routine. I feel like I've come around a bit and above all explored all of my abilities. »
A dream start to the 2024 Tour de France…which Romain Bardet had targeted!
When we ask Romain Bardet his view of the feat achieved at Rimini in the company of Frank van den Broekhis teammate within the DSM-firmenich PostNLthe French climber reveals that he had specifically targeted the opening weekend of Tour. “It was the dream scenario, but not really a surprise. The result is exceptional but in the approach and in the plan that I made for this first weekend, I had a lot of ambition for this opening weekend, I knew that it was for me the ideal scene on this Tour. But being able to put it into practice and having the external conditions come together at the right time to make it happen are things that were not in my control. »
Romain Bardet: “My physical limits have been reached”
The main reason for Romain Bardet to end his career is not so much the sacrifices, but rather the feeling of having somehow reached the limits. “It was above all my physical limits that were, I think, reached. I can still achieve results but I won't win many races every year anymore. There was the desire to anticipate a bit of a decline which is inevitable and also to be in touch with my values, my ethics, my personal hygiene and my conception of the profession which is no longer totally in phase with that of my environment. . »
Denying your true nature in order to shine in the general rankings
Romain Bardet readily admits having put aside his offensive temperament in order to shine in the general rankings, a choice that the Auvergne does not regret in any way. “In my career, I fought for what was certainly the noblest, namely the general classifications of the biggest races in the world. But to get there, I had to mute this slightly more primal side of running on instinct. I denied my nature. I don't regret it, it allowed me to make two podiums on the Tour but I had a physical level which would have allowed me to win more stages and great races by following my impulses. »
Romain Bardet: “Pogacar’s season? I ignore it…”
When we question Romain Bardet about the incredible season carried out by the ogre Tadej Pogacarthe tricolor climber is somewhat circumspect. “I don’t know what to answer. I ignore it. Honestly, it's not the same weight class. I'm surprised but, at the same time, he brought to life the immense potential that we saw in him. Apparently he didn't know how to train. Now he knows. He puts together a potential that we have seen in recent years on his first two Tour de France which he won in the class. He is so superior, it's hard to explain. I don't spend a lot of time looking for explanations. Even being contemporary and in the industry, we have the feeling of not really being one of his opponents. »
Romain Bardet, about carbon monoxide: “It can explain the trajectory of some people we didn’t know a year ago”
“I learned about the use of monoxide through the press. I've never heard anything but at the same time, I wouldn't be surprised. There is so much research being done with the idea of performance optimization. It's not surprising that there are certain researchers, certain teams, cycling players who look elsewhere. There will always be the desire to seek competitive advantages. It's like ketones, it's open to interpretation. As the rules are not clearly laid down, we should not be surprised by possible deviations. Carbon monoxide can explain the trajectory of some people that we didn't know a year, a year and a half ago, but it's also a somewhat easy trial to make of them without being interested in their trajectory. »
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