Sarkozy to visit the Tour

Newly-elected French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed that he would attend one stage of the Tour de France, but did not specify which, in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche. Sarkozy expressed his support for the Tour de France director for overcoming the doping scandals to present a compelling event once more. "I will go there more especially because Christian Prudhomme, the new director of the Tour, took remarkable action against doping. It is not at the time which the leaders of the Tour endeavour to cleanse this sport when one must drop them!" he exclaimed.

Sarkozy declined to choose a favourite rider to win the Tour, but put his hopes in Christophe Moreau. "I am convinced that the Tour de France is part of the spirit of the French. A July without the Tour de France would not be July," he said.