Cycling-We’re still too green, says Frenchman Bardet (Reuters)
By Julien Pretot ST JEAN DE MAURIENNE, France, July 23 (Reuters) – A year after three Frenchmen raised local hopes in the Tour de France, the home nation’s chances of another podium finish in Paris vanished early this year and Romain Bardet believes it is too soon to dream again. Bardet, who won the 18th stage in style on Thursday, was sixth overall last year with his AG2r-La Mondiale team mate Jean-Christophe Peraud in second and Thibaut Pinot of FDJ in third. Peraud also crashed heavily and never looked close to finding his best form again while Bardet and Pinot, now 10th and 16th overall, have frequently gone on the attack but are not in the hunt for the yellow jersey this time.