After almost fourteen years as a professional, Romain Bardet has decided to end his career at the Critérium du Dauphiné, a race that he says "holds a special place in my heart". As he prepares for his eighth participation, the Picnic PostNL leader opens his vault of memories: a memorable stage finish in Courchevel in 2014, his only victory in Pra-Loup in 2015 and high-level overall classifications in 2016 (2nd) and 2018 (3rd). The Auvergne rider, who will experience an emotional stage start in his hometown of Brioude, is still aiming high for next week: a final victory would be a worthy conclusion to an already decorated career.

Did you approach this season without a countdown, but now that your farewell is near, are you finding yourself counting the days?
"I'm well aware that, if everything goes smoothly, I only have eight days of racing left. The end is near. But I'm completely at peace with this because I've been able to do what I had in mind. Everything is going as planned. I'm really happy to return to the Dauphiné. I haven't raced here since 2020, which was a special edition in September with only five stages due to COVID, and I finished 6th overall".

You just finished the Giro d'Italia: what's your assessment?
"Last year I finished ninth at the Giro, but I wasn't satisfied, fighting just to stay at the bottom of the Top 10 without really influencing the race wasn't fulfilling. This year I felt stronger, but things didn't go well on the key days. Sometimes that's how it goes. I've raced the Giro four times and finished second in a stage four times, it won't change my life or how people see my career. What struck me again was how deep and challenging a Grand Tour is. I also realized that my best years are truly behind me. I can't rely on bursts of audacity or last-minute gambles like before. And that's fine with me. Things went unpredictably and we were still excited".

Some time ago you decided that the Dauphiné would be your last race. Why this choice?
"I wanted to race one last Giro, because it's the Grand Tour that suits me best, especially after the Tour de France I experienced in 2024. I was fortunate to be able to choose the race in which I would retire, and the Dauphiné seemed right to me. It's a race that means a lot to me personally, and everything aligned perfectly to reach a worthy conclusion. I think I'll enjoy these last pedal strokes here, where I can still play an active role, more than at the Tour".

You've had extraordinary moments at the Dauphiné since your debut in 2014, particularly that chaotic final stage in Courchevel where Andrew Talansky snatched the yellow jersey from Alberto Contador, while you secured 5th overall and 2nd in the stage...
"That was the first time I thought: 'I love cycling in this way'. And it's the type of scenario the Dauphiné makes possible. We must remember that, at the time, races were often tightly controlled by two dominant teams. But the Dauphiné had this unpredictable magic, in the last weekend things could completely fall apart and leaders could find themselves isolated".

The following year you signed your first major victory in Pra-Loup, with a downhill attack. How important was this at the beginning of your career?
"That victory turns 10 this year, it really closes the circle. It gave me the confidence to move forward and win again at the Tour a few weeks later. I wanted to express myself on the bike that way. Getting a victory with this type of scenario is what I'm most proud of. And my Tour stage win in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne came the same way, only that time I wasn't among the general classification favorites, just in the breakaway. 2015 was a truly crucial year for me".

The Dauphiné is the race where you stood on the final podium in 2016 (2nd) and 2018 (3rd), behind Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas. Did those results make you think you could win the Tour?
"Not exactly. But in 2016, I think it was a mistake not to seriously aim for the overall victory. On Saturday's stage, I attacked on the Madeleine and had a duel with Thibaut Pinot up to Méribel. In the end, I missed the victory by just over twelve seconds. That was probably the closest I came to winning a stage race. It gave me great joy. With the Tour, emotions are on a roller coaster over three weeks. The Dauphiné was always more consistent for me, it validated the work I had done and usually prepared me well for July".

Do you hope to wear the hunter's jersey again, like we saw last year?
"I would like to, but I also have to be realistic: I don't know how I'll react to the Giro-Dauphiné double. Right now, my only goal is to recover as much as possible before the start and hope for the best. Apart from the Tour, this is the most prestigious start list of the year. The best cyclists in the world will be here. So, I hope there's a moment this week where I can aim for a stage victory, it would be special".

A stage start will be in your hometown, Brioude: did you preview it?
"I didn't do any reconnaissance, but I know the roads like the back of my hand, there's not a single climb I don't know. There's a stage starting from Issoire, near Clermont-Ferrand, and I would like the final part of that route to be a bit harder, because an early breakaway could make it a great race. One of the final climbs, the Côte de Nonette, is a place I've tackled for over 20 years. It was the furthest point we would go on training rides when I was 12. It's not a hard climb, but we were used to challenging each other. And now my father, who trains young riders at VSB Brivadois, often takes them there to tackle it at full gas. It's a nice place".

So eyes are on the mountain stages of the weekend...
"Combloux is probably the only realistic opportunity for me. UAE might already be dominating by then, but Saturday and Sunday will probably be just a matter of survival for me. I'll give my best, but there are too many unknowns. Up front, the best are flying and hungry: many haven't raced since Liège or even Paris-Nice. So opportunities to try something will be few and far between".

And once you cross the finish line in Val Cenis, what's the first thing you want to do in your new life?
"It's time to finally unpack. It's always been ready with my race kit, always prepared for the next trip. But this time, I'll truly empty it and put it down. I'm ready to stop organizing my days around training and start nourishing myself in other ways. From now on, a successful day won't depend on what I'll have to do for the next race".