The few Quebec cyclists who hope to participate in the Tour de France will play their last cards this week.
Hugo Houle seems the best placed, he who is aiming for a fourth consecutive Grande Boucle, this time within the Israel-Premier Tech formation.
The 31-year-old athlete continues to watch out for his teammate Jakob Fuglsang in the Tour de Suisse.
The Dane returned home safely after the second stage on Monday.
Houle joined the line at 22e rank, 38 seconds behind the young Norwegian Andreas Leknessund (DSM), the last survivor of a 10-rider breakaway that surprised a “slightly sleepy” peloton, according to Antoine Duchesne (80e+ 2 min 12 s).
Funny fact, the Italian Alberto Bettiol (EF) raised an arm after having settled the sprint of the peloton, mistakenly believing to have won. On Twitter, Wout Van Aert, who committed the same faux pas at the Dauphiné last week, said he was relieved to pass the cap of shame on to him…
After a sluggish comeback at the end of May at the Mercan’Tour, Houle was happy to regain his speed with the Helvetians.
I accompanied Jakob [Fuglsang] until the end of the last climb where it went a little faster. I was fine. The form is where it should be.
Hugo Houle
Third last year, Fuglsang is aiming for another podium at this Tour of Switzerland, currently dominated by the Welshman Stephen Williams (Bahrain). “Victory is also accessible, estimated his Quebec accomplice. Jakob is in good shape and he is always good at this time of year. We have a lot of hope. »
Given his role with his leader, Houle does not know if he will inherit a “good exit” to slip into a breakaway. Like last year, when he finished sixth in a stage, his best ever result in a WorldTour event.
Anyway, he does not believe he has to pull off a feat to start the Tour on 1er July, in Copenhagen.
“I’m confident to be at the start of the Tour. I think I deserve it because of my performance compared to the other riders on the team. Normally it should be good, but the next four, five days will be decisive. If I perform at the same level in the Tour de Suisse as I have done since the beginning of the year, that should be enough. »
It looks more difficult for Duchesne, who will have to break through the generally French line-up of Groupama-FDJ in order to return to the roads of the Tour for the first time since 2016.
photo taken from the instagram account @tonythetiger_12 Antoine Duchesne
Duchesne blamed himself for being knocked down “250 meters” from the summit on Monday. “I was a little angry! “, he admitted.
The native of Saguenay suffered from the strong heat that fell on the peloton like a leaden screed on Sunday. “I feel like I have strength in my legs, but I don’t have the energy to push it because of the heat. Today, I fart at 85% of my capacity. But it was already much better than [dimanche], and I think it will get better. »
Duchesne comes out of a training course in duo with his leader Thibaut Pinot. With two members of the team staff, they crossed the Alps from north to south, crossing several cols that are on the route of the Tour, including the mythical Alpe d’Huez.
Unlike Pinot, triple stage winner and third overall in 2014, Duchesne obviously has no guarantee of being one of the eight elected for the Tour.
” I’ve no idea. I fight for a type of place [rouleur/domestique, NDLR], and the group that was at the Dauphiné performed very well. I know I’m in good shape, but right now I’m not at the most confident. »
His teammate Bruno Armirail, who has a similar profile, distinguished himself with three breakaways at the Critérium du Dauphiné. “It would be a big disappointment [de ne pas être choisi], but I also understand that the others deserve to be there just as much, underlined Duchesne. I don’t think management knows either. It won’t be an easy choice for them, that’s for sure. »
Recovered from the illness that slowed him down in April, Guillaume Boivin still makes a second participation in the Tour his big goal for the season. He was due to take part in the Dauphiné, but the Israel-Premier Tech battle to avoid relegation to the second division changed plans. He has therefore spent the last few weeks in Belgium chasing points with the armada of ISP sprinters, while Michael Woods will line up for the Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge on Tuesday rather than pedaling in Switzerland, for the same reasons.
photo taken from the instagram account @israelpremiertech Guillaume Boivin
Boivin believes he missed a great opportunity on Saturday during the race Across the Hageland, where he finished 20e after a puncture.
“The legs are really excellent,” said the national champion. Too bad I punctured on Saturday at an uncertain moment. It took me 60 km to regain the lead, where there were only 25 riders left. I was a bit flushed, but just to come back was quite an achievement. »
From Wednesday to Sunday, Boivin will compete in the Tour of Belgium, where the stages that suit him will not be lacking.
“I don’t do the classic preparation, but I hope to have demonstrated so far that I have the form to go to the Tour and be useful there. The first 10 days will be relatively flat or a bit hilly, which is fine with me. And there are cobblestones at the fifth stage. It’s my goal to go there, but it’s also that of a lot of guys. »
Israel-Premier Tech is expected to announce its selection for the Tour on Monday. This will probably go after the French Championships, on June 26, for Groupama.
