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Tour celebrates another French win
It usually takes a highly-publicized doping scandal to bring Tour de France chief Christian Prudhomme to the brink of tears.
But on Friday it was 24-year-old debutant Brice Feillu, giving the hosts their second stage victory of the race, who brought the emotions flooding out after an impressive ride to victory on the first day in the mountains.
Feillu, a specialist climber who rides for Agritubel with his brother Romain, took his chance by attacking his small group of breakaway companions inside the final 6km of the 10.1km climb to Arcalis.
And despite fearing he would be reeled in by Cofidis rival Christophe Kern, he dug deep on every remaining corner to come over the finish line with a five second lead on his fellow Frenchman.
After Thomas Voeckler's gutsy win at Perpignan, it brought smiles to the faces of the hosts who, despite having plenty of racing talent, are still waiting for an heir to Bernard Hinault, the last French Tour champion in 1985.
"I've got tears in my eyes, and that doesn't happen to me often," said Prudhomme as he congratulated Feillu.
A first year professional, for Feillu it was already an accomplishment being picked to ride the world's toughest bike race for his division two team.
"I'm just a first year pro, I'm only 24 and I've been given my chance to race the Tour," said Feillu. "It's a great victory, and in a big mountain stage - what more can I ask for?
"I had a similar performance when I won the Ballon d'Alsace amateur race last year. I love these kind of finales where you always have to dig deep to accelerate on the corners."
Joining Feillu at the finish after leading in the sprinters' grupetto at 28:29 behind, older brother Romain could not hold back his tears.
"When I saw they had a seven-minute lead at the bottom of the Arcalis climb I thought, 'he's going to win'. I just knew it," said Romain, a former Tour of Britain winner who placed third in three sprint finishes at last year's race.
"It augurs well for the rest of the race. Hopefully he'll do something else in the Alps. But he's already made a superb entry on to the Tour."
Whether he wins another stage or not, this stage win could count double for Brice when it comes towards securing a contract at the end of the season, when his Agritubel is expected to close its doors.
