In his 13th year as a professional, Ag2r-Prevoyance rider Christophe Moreau said Thursday he thinks he can do something he’s never done at the Tour de France — finish on the podium.

Though he’s no stranger to the Tour’s top 10 (he was fourth in 2000, and has twice finished eighth), Moreau has never reached the final podium in Paris.

But after dominating the Dauphiné Libéré in June, and more recently winning the French national championship, the 36-year-old Moreau has reason to think this year might be different. In the 12 times he has arrived to the start of the Tour, it’s the most serene he’s ever felt.

“Because of what I did to win the Mont Ventoux stage and the overall classification at the Dauphiné Libéré, and then the French national championship, it’s already been a great season,” Moreau said at a pre-race press conference. “If you told me before the start of the season I would win both of those races, I would say ‘no, it’s impossible.’ I have nothing to lose, so I am free to do my best and give everything I can so I have no regrets.”

Moreau came out swinging at the Dauphiné, taking the second stage before he dropped nearly three minutes to the rest of the GC contenders during the stage 3 individual time trial. But the following day Moreau went on the attack, winning on Ventoux by more than a minute. He later secured the overall win, prompting runner-up Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto) to call him “unbeatable.”

That fantastic form carried over to the French national championship, where he defeated breakaway companions Patrice Halgand and Pierrick Fedrigo by more than two minutes.

“I still don’t realize that I am French national champion,” said Moreau about his first national title in 13 attempts. “Maybe it’s because I just received my new jersey this morning, and I haven’t even tried it on yet.”

Still, Moreau’s top fitness a month out from the Saturday’s prologue raised questions, as many wondered if the Frenchman had peaked too early to carry over his form through the final week of the Tour. Not so, Moreau said.

“I think I can keep my form throughout the Tour, I have done it in past years,” Moreau said. “Usually when I am really good in June it’s not a problem to keep the same condition into July. And for me it’s important from a psychological point of view. When I feel good in June I feel good in July. In 2001 I won the Dauphiné Libéré and wore the yellow jersey in July [after winning the Tour’s prologue.]In 2002 I was excellent in the Dauphiné and I was fourth at the Tour. I think I can do the same this year.”

Asked what he sees as his objectives for this Tour, Moreau said he was aiming for the podium, with a quest for the King of the Mountains jersey as a backup plan.

“It would be a dream to win the mountain classification,” Moreau said. “When you are French, if you can’t win the overall you want to at least win another jersey. In the past it’s been a dream to finish on the podium, but this year it’s different. I think it’s a possibility to be in top three. Until the Alps I will concentrate on the win, and after the Alps we will make a decision and if it’s not possible, we will think of something else, like winning a stage or going for the mountains jersey.”

Though Moreau won the prologue at the 2001 Tour, he said he doesn’t see himself as a contender on Saturday’s 7.9km trip through London.

“Maybe I’ve progressed in other specialties, and I’m not so good in the time trial as I once was,” Moreau said. “The most important thing is to be very concentrated on your strengths. No, I don’t think it’s possible for me to win it.”

These days no press conference is complete without a question about doping, and given Moreau’s past, the Ag2r rider was asked his feelings about this year’s Tour being ridden under the microscope, to see if there has been any change given the recent admissions of stars of the sport like Ivan Basso and Bjarne Riis. Moreau was suspended for six months in 1998 for his involvement in the Festina affair, but has professed to race clean since.

“I think that things are changing,” Moreau said. “Everyone wants things to change. The UCI pledge we all signed is important. It’s proof that everyone wants things to change. I hope that at this Tour we will just speak about sport, the winner, the stages, and not about doping. Of course there are still difficult points, but I am optimistic. Everyone wants change and I think we will see that. Last year the atmosphere was so difficult for us, and despite the atmosphere things did not change. This year things are changing. The teams, the sponsors, the organizers and the public need to find the credibility of cycling again.”