Duchesne and Houle will be part of the big loop

“I fell to the ground and bawled in my wife’s arms…”

Antoine Duchesne experienced strong emotions when he learned of his selection by Groupama-FDJ for his second Tour de France on Tuesday evening.

At his first experience, in 2016, he was 24 and thought it was just the beginning.

The following year, to his surprise, his contract with the Direct Énergie team was not renewed. He found a place with Groupama-FDJ, a French formation with which he had high hopes of returning to the Tour.

In 2019, it was almost there, but a problem with an iliac artery landed him on an operating table instead. A year later, mononucleosis struck him down three months before departure. Morale at rock bottom, he considered retirement.

But after a first Giro last year, the native of Saguenay was hopeful of reconnecting with the biggest cycling race in 2022.

The 30-year-old cyclist is happy to have been able to share this news with his wife, Chloé. “It was a big emotional moment,” said Duchesne, her son Jules, 2 months since the day before, curled up on her chest.

Saying he is in the shape of his life, Duchesne believes he has convinced his bosses definitively by contributing to the victory of his teammate Thibaut Pinot in the penultimate stage of the Tour de Suisse on Saturday. He had brought back his leader in the breakaway which made it to the end.

After the race, Pinot, third in the 2014 Tour, praised the contribution of the Quebecer, with whom he has forged friendships in recent years. The two participated together in a preparation course through the Alps ahead of the Tour de Suisse. Pinot was also the first person Duchesne called after being informed of his tenure.

“Since the beginning of December, we have had in mind to be together at the Tour. Of course we were very happy. »

A team member first and foremost, Duchesne has “no” personal ambition other than that of reaching Paris after three weeks and contributing to collective success. He expects to play a particularly important role in the early stages, where he will have to prevent pitfalls for Pinot and David Gaudu, who should be the designated leader for the general classification.

His outgoing personality probably favored his candidacy. “They confirmed to me that I was selected for my physical qualities, but it is certain that human qualities and my ability to bring a group together also weigh in the balance. »

Duchesne accepts his selection “with great humility”. “They shattered the dream of two, three other guys who also deserved their place. I really understand their disappointment because I was ready to experience it myself. So I’m very happy, but very humble at the same time. »

Swell too

At the big start in Copenhagen on 1^er July, Duchesne will find his friend Hugo Houle, who will compete in a fourth consecutive Tour de France. After the first three with Astana, the athlete from Sainte-Perpétue will this time wear the colors of Israel-Premier Tech (IPT).

Houle will accompany compatriot Michael Woods, who will chase stages, and Briton Chris Froome, the four-time winner who will return after a serious cycling accident that could have cost him his life in 2019. Canadian road champion Guillaume Boivin, who played a first Grande Boucle last year, however did not receive the expected call. As in 2020, he is the first substitute.

Houle was a star performer in Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang’s third-place finish at the Tour de Suisse.

“Given my performances at the Tour de Suisse [15^e]it went without saying that I was part of the Tour, ”said the Canadian time trial champion, joined to his Monegasque residence.

The 31-year-old athlete was surprised not to be among the six shortlisted riders after the Spring Classics period in April.

“I was still very disappointed with the start of the season that I knew. I didn’t think I would have to justify myself so much. In the end, I answered well. Anyway, I know my level, I know what I have to do. I haven’t changed my preparation. »

IPT will be aiming for stage wins in the Tour. If the circumstances allow it, Houle believes he has his chance.

“I manage to improve a little each year, underlined the one who finished seventh in a stage in 2020. Hoping that I will be able to seize an opportunity and make the most of it. But at the Tour, there will be no easy ones. It’s tough runners getting away all the time. That remains the goal. »

Roommates for several years when they started out in Europe, Houle and Duchesne will now have the chance to share the great adventure of the Tour de France.