ProTeam Sébastien Grignard about his first Tour de France experience
“Our Tour went okay so far I think, we had good results with the team. The first goal with Arnaud (De Lie) was that he learns and gains experience, and I think we can tick that one off. The level is super high, that’s what makes it so hard.”
Sébastien Grignard participated in the Vuelta last year, which was his first grand tour. “Andreas (Kron) won the second stage there, we immediately had a win and that’s why the pressure also fell off us. Of course we also want to win here, but we knew for Arnaud it was his first grand tour and with Maxim we were unfortunate as he had to go home last Monday being covid positive.”
Grignard dreamed of participating at La Grande Boucle one day. “My dad Sixte is technical coordinator at the Belgian TV RTBF, he’s now doing his 25th Tour de France, but he also follows a lot of other sports for his job. I think both my parents are very proud of me, they let me live my dream. I have seen my dad a couple of times at the finish, but he’s not always at the finish and he doesn’t always have a lot of time. I have also seen other family and my girlfriend already. With the Tour you’re almost four weeks from home, it’s nice to see some familiar faces sometimes.”
“Today is our last chance to really take a nice result. The weekend will be too hard and will be for the GC guys. Victor (Campenaerts) or Brent (Van Moer) can maybe try to go in the breakaway. I think it’s a pity we don’t have the traditional sprint stage on Sunday in Paris, it’s mentally different as now we don’t have a real goal anymore in the weekend. Now it will be more about surviving.”
“Of course I want to finish my first Tour de France. I feel tired, but it’s still okay being the third week. I’m looking forward now to go home and eat something without carbs. A good pizza or fries, something nice. I am looking forward to the quietness and not doing anything. I will remember all the fans, the special atmosphere, but also the experience I gained in this Tour. The Grand Départ in Florence was also impressive. It’s the Tour, and that’s just special.”
Pictures: PhotoNews
