“We know that the guys were in good condition, we know that Kevin was working very hard. So, today, it worked out for us, good for us. We had a month or two where it wasn’t easy, we had a lot of problems, guys who fell, who broke so today, we have to enjoy things and that’s what we’re going to do Yes, it’s the first victory on the Tour. is not easy to win in the Tour de France and in any other race Today, all races are difficult to win. There is the point race and that makes it even more difficult to win. win races.
We didn’t come here for Kevin to make the general classification of the Tour. We came to chase a table victory. It’s today, it could have been in 3 days, in 4 days, in 5 days, I don’t know. But the main thing is that it is there. And then there is still Arnaud de Maine. and the other days with other opportunities that will present themselves to us, it’s up to us to seize them, it’s up to us to be good. You have to do things well, and have confidence in yourself too.
Yes, because when the peloton rolled, it was mostly in strategic places and to avoid taking risks, so it was like a steamroller. We had decided that when leaving the Imola circuit, we would tighten the screws a little to dissuade the peloton from wanting to reorganize when it got closer. Afterwards, yes, it was obvious that the breakaway was going to be at stake for the victory. So we were lucky to be two, but it can also be a trap to be two. We had great Kevin, we had great Cristian and today it is still a collective victory and it will do the whole group good.
Kevin is still young. He has proven since the start of the season that he has reached a milestone, that he ticked all the boxes, or at least some of the boxes that he still had to tick. He is maturing race after race. That is what is needed and that is what is interesting. That is good, we are winning. Kevin today, for me, was the strongest. I asked him especially, in the hill, from there, it is like a time trial. On the downhill, on the other hand, you take zero risk, even if you lose time. And as soon as you get to the bottom, after that, it is a second time trial and all the way to the line. After that, who wins with 15, with 20 or at 40 seconds, we don’t care. The main thing is to cross the line, so zero risk in the bends.
When we win, we are moved and I still am. Because we live what we do. We want to pass it on. Kevin, he has potential. Now, I’m not going to sell dreams. Today, Kevin, he is reaching milestones, he is asserting himself, he is gaining confidence in himself. A week ago, a little bit more, he could have been the French time trial champion. We have to let him mature, we have to let him grow. We have to let him continue to build himself. Above all, we must not put more pressure on him. He is a guy who wants to do things well. Let’s let him grow.”
Comments collected by Arnaud Souque
