The Tour de France has a new hero. While Tadej Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad seems to have a stranglehold on the GC race yet again, Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché) has emerged as a national hero thanks to going on the attack on the flat stages, ignoring the fact that he has little chance of victory.
The 26-year-old from Brittany attacked alone from the gun on stage 5 to Pau and attacked again during stage 7 to Bordeaux, with Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) joining him out front. The two were never let go by the peloton but animated the long, hot ride to Bordeaux.
Veistroffer was awarded a second combativity award for his attack and got to rub shoulders with Tadej Pogačar and fellow Breton Bernard Hinault in the podium area.
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He has now spent 301km on the attack after just over 1,000km of racing in this year's Tour. According to race statistics, he has spent more than 2,000km on the attack so far in 2026, more than Raúl García Pierna (Movistar) who has been out front for 1710km.
"Pour la beauté du sport et la beauté de l’effort", For the love of the sport and the beauty of the effort, Veistroffer posted on Instagram after his Bordeaux breakaway, summarising his love for attack and his philosophy for the Tour de France.
"I'm in love with the miles covered across France and the magic of the Tour. Thanks to all those crazy folks. The road ahead is still long."
Hinault was nicknamed 'Le blaireau', the badger, because he often attacked with anger. Veistroffer is called the 'Le Sanglier', the wild boar, for his big build and natural aggression. He is a classic French baroudeur, who came to cycling via triathlon and loves to attack. He is following in the footsteps of other Tour de France baroudeurs, like Thomas De Gendt, Jacky Durand and Thomas Voeckler.
"I feel very lucky to be able to do this on the Tour de France, the greatest race in the world, it's every cyclist's dream," Veistroffer told French television.
"The objective was to get into the breakaway again, especially because I had family visiting," he revealed, giving his combativity award flowers to his mum after the stage.
"In cycling, where the leaders dominate and control everything down to the millimetre, it closes a lot of doors. But you always have to keep believing; what makes me happy is the progress, not the result itself. It's the nature of the breakaway; you have to believe. The chances are still quite slim, but if you're optimistic...
"I feel good at the moment, so I might as well make the most of riding at the front of the Tour. It is the biggest bike race in the world, and it is a huge pleasure to be able to do this.
"It's also a form of respect for the organisers, the public, the sponsors. A stage without a breakaway is still pretty stupid."
France is hoping Paul Seixas can challenge for the GC but while he waits for the decisive mountain stages, France is cheering for Veistroffer. His follower numbers on social media have exploded, and according to L'Equipe, Lotto Intermarché have already extended his contract.
The team was struggling after Arnaud De Lie abandoned due to illness but are back in the spotlight, attracting more support and admiration than many of their bigger budget rivals.
"I don't understand why I'm the only one going on the attack," Veistroffer said.
"There are riders we never see all day, even though we have an incredible opportunity to ride the Tour. I enjoyed my day out with people along the roadside, in the middle of nowhere, under a tree with a small barbecue. They've been waiting for the caravan and the riders for hours. I look to the right, to the left, I hear the cheers, the flags make for beautiful images.
"It's incredible to be French in the Tour de France."
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