The Côte de Domancy may be dwarfed by nearby Mont Blanc, but for some, the road out of Sallanches will always represent a particular high point in the history of French cycling. It was here in 1980 that Bernard Hinault didn't so much win the World Championships as conquer them, providing the signature moment of the nation's last era of dominance.
The Tour de France organisation's decision to include the Côte de Domancy as part of Thursday's stage 18 time trial to Megève was mainly a way to honour Hinault, who retires from official duties with ASO this year, but also something of a clarion call to riders from the home nation.
Thirty-one years have now passed since Hinault became the last French winner of the Tour, and while that drought will undoubtedly continue for another year – at least – Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) remains in the hunt for a place on the podium in Paris after an assured performance in a land consecrated by Le Blaireau.
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Bardet placed fifth in Megève, 42 seconds behind winner Chris Froome (Sky), to maintain his fifth position in the overall standings, but he moves to within 20 seconds of fourth-placed Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and is just 41 seconds off a place on the podium with two tough days in the Alps still to come.
"The objective is to move up," Bardet said after warming down past the finish line. "I've taken time to say it, but now, it's all for the podium."
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