Born in Dijon (Côte-d’Or), Geoffrey Bouchard is currently on the Tour of Spain roads for the AG2R-Citroën team. Best climber of the Tour of Italy 2021 and of the Vuelta in 2019, he tells us about his atypical journey, his goal of stage victory and his dreams of the Tour de France.
A Dijon resident on the roads of the Tour of Spain. As the Vuelta begins its last week on Tuesday, August 31, Geoffrey Bouchard, climber and leader of AG2R-Citroën, is one of the runners who salivate in advance of the 3 mountain stages that are looming. The current 20th in the general classification at 28’31 ” from the red jersey, dreams of his first stage victory on a grand tour.
Best climber of the Tour of Italy in May 2021 (first French cyclist to achieve the performance since Laurent Fignon in 1984) and of the Tour of Spain in September 2019, the one who lived in Dijon (Côte-d’Or) until his 14 years before discovering cycling in Grenoble (Isère), talks about his ambitions for the end of the Vuelta, his dreams of the Tour de France and his happiness to face the best cyclists in the world. At 29, Geoffrey Bouchard also recounts his atypical career, he who turned professional only three years ago thanks to his success as an amateur.
You are currently 20th in the general classification of the Vuelta. What is your assessment of your tour of Spain at the moment and what are your goals for this last week?
Geoffrey Bouchard: There are ups and downs but the results are pretty good. The start of the season was dense for me so I had moments of mental saturation during this lap. And then the first weeks of the big tour are always quite nervous. There is a lot of fatigue. I also had a factor to be aware of, the heat with averages of 38 degrees and peaks of 44 during the stages. It’s a weird piece of data to deal with. It’s a big turn so you have to put your back and work. There are still things to be fine-tuned. The objective for the last week is to win a stage. There are some nice uphill finishes that are looming and that may suit me.
During the fifth stage of the Vuelta, a big crash in the peloton brought more than 50 riders to the ground. Did this racing incident in which you were involved have any consequences on your performance during this Tour of Spain?
I was embarrassed more than hurt. On the other hand, I had a major crash on the Burgos tour 10 days before the Vuelta. I had a fall on a descent. This is also the mental fatigue I was talking about. I was walking well and I fell. It took some running and some effort to be in good shape and on time to participate in the Tour of Spain.
You won the best climber’s jerseys at the Giro d’Italia last May and the Tour of Spain in September 2019. But you have never achieved a victory on a grand tour stage. What do you need to achieve this?
You have to take the right breakaways. I would say, as we say in the jargon, those that are part of the lottery where anything can be played. I often take the breakaways on particularly difficult stages. Yesterday (Sunday August 29), there were only good climbers, everyone was scared. And in those days, you have to have the legs to make it happen. What I like about breakaways is being able to see victory. I know I’m not one of the best, I have to optimize my chances to try to win. Breakaways are much more tactical. The right movement can be done by force at the top of a climb or well in advance starting before the climb. I still have a hard time competing against the best in the final. I try to work. This year, I had a good stop. We must gain in regularity and consistency.
After participating in the Vuelta and the Giro, is the goal to participate in the Tour de France?
Yes it is a goal. I dream about it ! This year, the team tested me a bit by making me participate in two big tours. It takes a lot of energy. After the Tour of Italy, I did 3 top 10s in 3 races. Yes, today I really aim to do the Tour de France with the ambition to help our climbers, relieve them until the last climbs and take big breaks!
You turned professional late, in 2018, after several years at the amateur level. What did this atypical route bring you?
I made my hole little by little. I took more time than the others but I’m having fun! I have the notion of work. I worked at Decathlon for 3 years and I was also a salesperson. I am aware that on a big lap, we are particularly assisted as a runner. We are massaged, we are accompanied, we need to think only of the course. I have another look. I am aware of how lucky I am to be where I am. Sometimes I make them think about other runners. They don’t all realize. What I feel today is pride. There is adrenaline. The cycling world is very down to earth. Today, being able to discuss and fight with the great runners I saw on TV, that I admired, is gratifying.
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