It was 1985 when a French rider last won the Tour de France. This was Bernard Hinault, one of the strongest cyclists in history. Hinault was never a man focused on records: the French champion thinks that Tadej Pogacar (winner in 2020, 2021, and 2024) might soon equal or even surpass his record of five victories, which he currently shares with Jacques Anquetil, Belgian Eddy Merckx, and Spaniard Miguel Indurain. But losing the primacy doesn't bother him.

"When I won for the last time, no one would have thought about a lack of French victories, because French riders had always won the Tour at regular intervals," Hinault said in a TV special about the Tour. "It's a terrible observation to make, but it's inevitable: there are no longer great champions in France capable of winning the Tour."

According to Hinault, in France they are working to find new champions, but for now, they must be content with good riders, not phenomenal ones. "We no longer have the big 1000 cc motorcycle that can make a difference, we only have 750 cc bikes. They are undoubtedly doing what's necessary to get there, but we don't have the results and, most importantly, we currently have no chance of winning the Tour."

Cycling has changed tremendously since 1985, and the effects of globalization are evident to everyone.

"It was a combination of small details, and then cycling began to globalize. It's no longer just Belgians, Italians, and Spaniards dominating cycling. Colombians started arriving, followed by Americans. Then it was the turn of Australians and English; they came from every corner of the planet. We had to divide the cake even more and couldn't defend our share."

According to the five-time Tour de France winner, French riders must change their approach and stop aiming for placement, but learn to aim for victory.

"When French riders face competition from Pogačar, Vingegaard, or Evenepoel, what can they hope for? Nothing, obviously. But who forces them to insist on the Tour de France? There are other races. I don't understand riders who aim for a top 10 placement and then say they have good legs. For me, good legs are meant to win. David Gaudu's fourth place at the 2022 Tour was treated as if he had won, or almost. This certainly didn't help him aim higher."

Bernard Hinault believes that to be a great champion, it's not necessary to win a major Giro or only the Tour de France, and he cites Julian Alaphilippe as an example who should inspire all French riders.

"Julian Alaphilippe could be an example for many French riders. He has a curriculum that includes two world championship titles in 2020 and 2021 and many other races, because he never focused exclusively on the Tour. We have very performant riders, capable of winning classics like Liège-Bastogne-Liège or the Giro di Lombardia and Amstel. So why limit them by forcing them to aim for a top 10 placement in the Tour?"

In 1984, Hinault, nicknamed Le Blaireau (the badger), finished second in the Tour de France, beaten by an extraordinary Laurent Fignon. He had undergone knee surgery and had to yield to his rival. But when one is truly a champion, victory is felt and sought, and that's what Bernard Hinault did in 1985 when he won the Giro d'Italia and then again conquered the yellow jersey, leaving Fignon behind.

"In 1984, I had done everything possible to prevent Fignon from winning, but he was the strongest. I knew it would be possible to try again the following year. I first won the Giro d'Italia, and for me, this meant I would have an important Tour in my legs. I won because I was aiming for victory and didn't care if it was my fourth or fifth. I never chased records, it was never my priority, I raced to enjoy myself. I never tried to surpass Merckx or Anquetil, my two idols. The only record I aim for is living longer than Raphaël Géminiani. He was six months short of reaching 100 years. If I manage that, then that could be a true record."