Thiezac, France – Cycling’s Tour de France has become so hard that only “global superstars” are able to win even a single stage, French champion Romain Gregoire moaned on Monday’s first rest day.
Gregoire, who is a punchy racer but not a pure climber, won the French title a week before the Tour began in what had been the 23-year-old’s best season to date, including top four finishes in major one-day classics such as Strade Bianche and the Amstel Gold race.
But he wilted under the intense heat and breakneck pace of the Tour’s opening week and already finds himself an hour and a quarter down on race leader Tadej Pogacar in 60th place.
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