A community celebrating. In Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, the memory of Raymond Poulidor was everywhere, this Sunday. On everyone’s lips, in every head, in every heart, on every street corner.
“Thank you Poupou”, a huge purple jersey reminiscent of the Mercier hung on a facade, another decorated with the famous Poulidor-Anquetil duel on the slopes of Puy-de-Dôme, an exhibition “Poulidor l’intemps” or books with a stand of dedications (with in particular Daniel Pautrat, author of “Raymond Poulidor, a hero in the hearts of the French”), everything revolved, this Sunday, around the unforgettable “Poupou”.
Christian Prudhomme, the director of the Tour, went to put flowers on the grave of the eternal second and confessed: “This stage is for him. Very applauded, Mathieu Van der Poel, the grandson of the famous Auvergnat, received an ovation during the presentation of the teams. Before being given a bicycle that belonged to his grandfather. He just slipped “It’s good to be here”, before being choked with emotion…
Raymond Poulidor (14 Tours de France; 7 stage victories; 2nd in 1962, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1976; 3rd in 1964, 1965, 1974), a legend that the Tour has not forgotten. The 9th stage which will perch at the top of the Puy-de-Dôme could start with, for Mathieu Van der Poel, a special Canyon bike adorned with black and white photos of his famous grandfather on the frame. And the jersey of his Deceuninck-Quick Step team with a “Thank you Poupou” inscription.
