Every time the television cameras focused in on Romain Bardet and the commentators mentioned his name, roars of support erupted from the crowds gathered on the Plateau de Solaison for the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné.
The hopes and affection of the home nation were of course stoked by his second place at last year’s Tour de France and, after a shaky start to 2017, Bardet steadied the ship in the past week. Though, he acknowledged he has left himself with plenty to do if he’s to repeat the podium feat.
It was a shaky start to the Dauphiné, too, as the AG2R La Mondiale rider shipped time in the 23.5km stage 4 time trial. However, he found his legs in the mountains, gaining time with a long-range attack on Alpe d’Huez. Hoping for more of the same on the final stage, he rolled with the punches throughout an incredibly aggressive and dramatic day of racing, crossing the line sixth to cement his sixth place overall.
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“It was a great stage. There was nowhere for anyone to hide. We all gave 100 per cent. I’m happy to have raced this stage full gas, in the moment. It was a great bike race to be a part of,” Bardet told reporters after riding back down the mountain he’d just scaled.
“These short mountain stages are incredibly intense to race. At the end of the day, we’re human; we couldn’t race like that 21 days in a row, I assure you. But I think that they add dynamism.”
Bardet was part of a key move on the Col de la Colombière that left Richie Porte isolated and off the back. After Dan Martin and Jakob Fuglsang went clear on the final climb, he put in a couple of digs, riding away from Froome and Contador but losing a big of ground late on Louis Meintjes and Emmanuel Buchmnann.
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