The Tour de France, a business that doesn't need a French yellow jersey to remain flourishing

Every summer, attacks, promises, and ultimately disappointments or regrets. Since 1985 and the coronation of Bernard Hinault, for forty years, the final victory has eluded the French riders competing in the Tour. After the fifth success of the "Badger", six French riders have climbed onto the podium of the Grande Boucle: Bernard Hinault himself ( ^2nd in 1986), Laurent Fignon ( ^2nd in 1989), Richard Virenque ( ^3rd in 1996 and ^2nd in 1997), Jean-Christophe Péraud ( ^2nd in 2014), Thibaut Pinot ( ^3rd in 2014) and Romain Bardet ( ^2nd in 2016, ^3rd in 2017). But none on the top step.

Is this dearth of French victories in the final general classification of the Tour de France harming the health of the event? Not at all. For four decades, the economic model of the Tour de France has continued to boost the finances of Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO).

"The Tour de France is a phenomenon in itself, that of happy summers," explains Jean Durry, author of The True Story of the Giants of the Road (Edita-Denoël, 1973) . According to the writer, a sports specialist, the Tour de France's economy can do without good results from French riders. "The public is thrilled if a Frenchman is in the running, but for them, it's a party no matter what."

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