On rest in Rennes until Thursday August 4, Anaïs Morichon (22), licensed at C’Chartres cycling among amateurs, looks back on her first Tour de France, contested from July 24 to 31.
What do you remember from this first Tour de France?
Lots of positives. When you’re used to “classic” women’s races, you’re bound to be gripped by the impact of an event like the Tour. Public enthusiasm, media coverage: that’s another dimension. And for that, we can say thank you to Marion Rousse (the director of the Tour).
What are the highlights that you will remember?
There are a lot of them, but the big start on the Champs-Élysées was quite grandiose. I had a mechanical problem, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the moment. Then there was the 4th stage, Troyes – Bar-sur-Aube, and its white paths, “mine” (she is also a cyclo-cross specialist, editor’s note). Alas, I was not able to shine there as much as I would have liked.
Morichon in the reconquest of the professional peloton
Was the physical condition lacking?
Especially the freshness. I had a good start to the season which allowed me to be among the potential candidates selected for the Tour*. But I only learned a week before this one that I would be at the start, when I was leaving the Baloise Ladies Tour (in Belgium and the Netherlands). I came back on July 20 before leaving for Paris four days later.
“I didn’t have the legs”
In the end, you couldn’t finish…
It’s the way it ended that’s frustrating. At the end of the penultimate stage (the 7th: Sélestat – Le Markstein), where I had no legs after my fall on Thursday, I was disqualified for about ten seconds, along with my teammate, Yuliia Biriukova. Hard after having given everything to reach the finish…
Will you be at the start in 2023?
I would very much like. I am in contract until the end of 2023 but the idea would be to do better than this year, with targeted preparation.
* 34th in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, 35th in Flèche Wallonne, 36th in Paris-Roubaix.
David Berthelem
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