Frenchman Nicolas Jalabert (Phonak) is hoping for a Tour stage win on France's national holiday: July 14. It will be Jalabert's eighth Tour, having first participated in 1997. "The final week was extremely difficult," he recalled of that race. "Therefore, riding the last part on the Champs-Elysées I felt great relief and satisfaction at the same time."
Like many other Frenchman, the 33 year-old wants to win the stage between Luchon and Carcassonne, over 211.5 km, on July 14. The race will pass near his town of Aussillon on his country's national holiday. "On that day I hope to have the chance to play my hand," he said. "But in principle the will to win has to be in the foreground." During the other 19 stages, Jalabert will work in the service of his teammates.
