The next generation of French punchers is already here, as illustrated by the success of Kévin Vauquelin (23 years old, Arkea-B & B Hotels) on the second stage, Sunday in Bologna, at the end of a breakaway that also included Axel Laurance (23 years old, Alpecin-Deceuninck). The latter, possessing a great turn of speed, is not destined for mass sprints and symbolises the French generational gap in this area.
So once again, we will have to rely on Arnaud Démare (Arkea-B & B Hotels), 32 years old and already in his sixth participation in the Tour de France (for two stage victories), and Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), also 32 years old, who is tackling his seventh Grande Boucle. The complicated season of the former and the new profile of the latter do not place them as favorites for a victory this Monday in Turin or on the seven other opportunities for a mass finish. But there are reasons for hope.
Arnaud Démare: upset but well surrounded
Invigorated by his transfer to Arkea-B & B Hotels last season and comforted by the arrivals of two trusted starters – Miles Scotson and Florian Sénéchal (absent on the Tour) – this winter, Arnaud Démare approached the 2024 season with a lot of enthusiasm. enthusiasm in December: “Having a team that believes in me changes a lot of things. I want to score as much as possible!”
Fifth in his first sprint at the Trofeo Palma then at the Tour of the Algarve, the Picard seemed well on his way, but the rest resembled a long nightmare, between train disagreements and falls. “I have doubted many times, he admitted on Friday. Still in the four days of Dunkirk, after my fall (fracture of a finger), I had a really difficult five days. I had many obstacles in my way. Luckily I have a team that really supports me. »
“If I’m here it’s because I believe in it, the objective is obviously to go for a victory”
Because here is the main reason for hope: Arkea has always continued to believe in its project by aligning it with the Tour with at least one trusted pilot fish, Dan McLay, and a fairly well-stocked train. “If I’m here it’s because I believe in it, the objective is obviously to get a victoryhe said. I’m a bit like Mark Cavendish: a good wave, good confidence, if there’s space and feeling it can work.” Especially since the victory of his young teammate Kévin Vauquelin on Sunday will inevitably take some pressure off him.
Bryan Coquard: less powerful but sharper
The “Rooster” may not win much but he is still there: he has finished in the Top 10 of a sprint 13 times this season. “I am often consistent, even in sprints on the flat I manage to pull through but at no point do I think I am going to win”however regretted Bryan Coquard in January.
Confident – “all the lights are green” – but lucid – “I know it will take a little success”the Cofidis sprinter will perhaps be able to take advantage of a demanding start to the Tour which has already put his heaviest opponents to torture, to finally achieve this prestigious success that he dreams of so much.
