A French newspaper advertising man invented the race. It’s primarily held in France and there are usually more French teams and more French riders in the Tour de France than from any other country.

But that doesn’t mean France get its right. Not since Bernard Hinault’s last of five victories in 1985 has a French rider won the Tour de France. And it won’t likely happen this year, either.

But with stage 2, the French can have their sentiment — at least for one day — as the 95th Tour de France continues with another tricky, earlier climbing day.

The field will ride 164.5 kilometers (102.2 miles) from Auray to Saint-Brieuc, the hometown regions of two Hinualts — Bernard and French sprinter Sebastian Hinault (no relation).

On a northerly route, the field will have their second four-climb day, including three category 4 efforts and on category 3 ascent to Mur-de-Bretagne, o
ften called “The Wall.” It comes 92 km (57 miles) into the stage and, unlike the usual “stretch-the-legs” opening days of the Tour, stage 2 will again test the field.

In addition to the Hinault heritage, St. Brieu has hosted a Tour stage finish 10 times, the last in 2004 when Filippo Pozzato of Italy emerged from a small breakaway for a solo win.

As for Bernard Hinault, he began his final overall victory season with a prologue win in Plumelec amidst a throng of loyal fans. It was the beginning of the end of a career that in addition to five Tour de France titles, featured three overall titles at Tour of Italy, a dozen Classic (one-day race) wins and a World Championship road title.

Hinault first witnessed the Tour as a fan in St. Brieuc in 1972. Seven years later, he was the race leader when the race returned.

In a featurette interview in VeloNews, Hinault recalled: “The final sections of that stage were held on roads where I trained, and it passed through Yffignac, where I was born. Then we went over the Cote de Langueux, and both side of the street were packed with fans shouting my name. It’s a fabulous memory.”