David Moncoutié (Cofidis) has returned to the Tour de France after a two-year absence, ready to tackle the mountains. The Frenchman, who has won the mountains classification jersey in the Vuelta a España for the last three years – together with a stage win each year - has had a difficult time in the opening stages of the race, due to his dislike of the weather conditions experienced.
“It was a difficult first week with rain, everything that I do not like,” he told Cyclism'Actu.
“I often cycle only when there is heat, that's perhaps why I like to ride the Vuelta.”
The 36 year old says he hopes to get into the breakaway on today’s mountain stage, in what could possibly be his final Tour de France.
“I will try to make the escape. If I am not in it, I will try to stay with Rein Taaramäe for as long as possible.
“The ideal situation for me would be a group of ten to fifteen riders, with a ten to fifteen minute advantage at the foot of the first climb. That would certainly mean an opportunity for the stage victory.”
Moncoutié has spent his entire fifteen-year career with the Cofidis team and has got two stage wins to his name in the Tour de France. Both times in 2004 and 2005 [on Bastille Day], he outclassed the rest of the field to arrive at the finish alone. It’s Bastille Day once again and he’ll be inspired.
Today’s first mountain stage will see the peloton tackle a total of three mountains, namely, La Hourquette d’Ancizan, the famous Col du Tourmalet before finishing on Luz-Ardiden.
“(Today) those aiming at the victory of the Tour are going to be involved, it is a very difficult stage with the Tourmalet and Luz-Ardiden. Last week was the Massif Central, but it is nothing like today. I think we will now see who the strong men are. We will not know who will win the Tour but we will know who will lose and know who will be on form.”
Is it still unknown whether Moncoutié will head to the Vuelta a España after the Tour in an attempt to win the mountains classification jersey for the fourth year in a row. The record is held by José Luis Laguía who won the jersey five times.