But then Festina and GAN were the only French teams to automatically qualify for the Tour. The Tour organization, mindful of the detrimental effect such a low level of participation would have on French cycling, opted to boost the numbers of French riders taking to the start line every day by making the inexperienced Aubervilliers team the last minute offer. Yet, to universal surprise, the team has made the most of the opportunity. Far from being daunted by three weeks in the company of Indurain, Berzin, Rominger, and company, Aubervilliers has been one of the most aggressive teams in the race so far.
Their experienced sprinter Christophe Capelle placed ninth in s'Hertegenbosch and fifth in Wasquehal, while 23-year-old Cyril Saugrain, riding his first Tour, animated the race on the opening stage and also attacked during yesterday's long trek to Wasquehal.
"When I think about what lies ahead for the guys it frightens me," admitted their directeur sportif, Staphane Javalet. "When I first saw the stage profiles I couldn't sleep at night. But we've got riders who have been here before, like Capelle and Thierry Bourgignon. Add them to Gilles Talmant and Thierry Gouvenou, and we've got four riders who've already ridden the Tour." With a comparatively small budget of only six million francs ($1.2 million), Aubervilliers will never lure any star names to its ranks. But the team's brave start to a race that will surely turn into a "rite of passage" for many of their younger riders has already won them friends among the Tour caravan.