Bastille Day, Mont Ventoux make Stage 12 special for French riders

— -- MONTPELLIER, France -- When Laurent Biondi talks about his days in the Tour de France and what it was like to be a French rider waking up on the morning of Bastille Day, his eyes suddenly sparkle and the smile of a racer rather than the sports director he is today returns.

For any French cyclist, apart from winning the Tour overall, there is no bigger dream than that of crossing the line first in a Tour stage on the 14th of July -- the French national holiday.

"I was always very motivated," Biondi, who raced seven Tours in his 10-year professional career, told ESPN.com as Thursday's blockbuster Bastille Day 12th stage neared.

Biondi, 56, is manager of the French Ag2r-La Mondiale team led by French Tour hope Romain Bardet, who is sixth overall at 56 seconds to British race leader Chris Froome (Sky). Biondi believes Bardet, 25, will feel as he did Thursday, especially with Bastille Day falling on the same day as the 12th stage from Montpellier to Mont Ventoux, where the climb has been reduced by 6 kilometers due to forecasted gale-force winds at the summit.

The climb, now 10 kilometers in length, is not a favourite of Bardet, who is one of several new hopes to be the first French winner of the Tour since Bernard Hinault in 1985.

"Ventoux will be a key moment," Bardet said on Monday's rest day. "I climbed it only once, in 2013. It's not my favorite climb. I trained on Ventoux in June. It was the right thing to do."

Still, Bardet is unlikely to dismiss any opportunity that comes his way to win Thursday.

What better way for a French rider showing so much promise in this Tour to leave his mark than on one of the toughest mountains in France on the country's national holiday.

But Bardet will not be alone in trying to write the fairy tale for French cycling fans. For starters, the likes of Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), Pierre Rolland (Cannondale) and Warren Barguil (Giant-Alpecin) -- all climbers -- will harbor the same intent for the 12th stage, now 178km.

"[Bardet's] heart will be burning to win," said Biondi. He also said "everyone will be very motivated to win at Ventoux" no matter their nationality. Due to the stature of the stage, and Thursday being July 14, he said "there will be a double motivation" for the French riders.

However, emotion alone won't convert into performance on a stage traditionally so tough. The climb may have been shortened to finish in the forested section of Chalet Reynard, rather than continue out to the barren scree slopes exposed to the wind and heat. But there is the expectation that the shorter distance will invite a more aggressive finish to the stage.

So if anything, there is a need to contain what the heart says, to keep emotions in check.

"Generally stages on the 14th of July go very, very fast," said Biondi. "Reality often and quickly brings you back to reality. As soon as it goes fast, if you have sore legs -- which means you've not recovered well -- when you arrive at the foot of Ventoux you are dropped.

"At this level there is no miracle -- even on July 14 -- at Mont Ventoux. You must have the physical condition, the health as well."

Biondi: Top five the goal, but podium possible

Notwithstanding Biondi's caution against allowing French heartstrings to pull too hard, he is optimistic about Bardet's prospects in this Tour.

After a 15th place in his debut in 2013, Bardet's best finish was sixth in 2014. He was ninth last year.

A top-five finish is a realistic goal, and while Froome and Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar) are fancied to fight for the win, there is belief Bardet could make the podium.

The overall time gaps underwent another change in Wednesday's 162.5km 11th stage from Carcassonne to Montpellier that was won by Slovakian world champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff). Sagan, who now has two stage wins, beat Froome and two other breakaway riders -- Welshman Geraint Thomas (Sky) and Poland's Maciej Bodnar (Tinkoff). They jumped away in the wind-stricken stage with 10km to go.

Froome not only extended his overall lead to Bardet thanks to his brazen move; he also increased it on second-place Briton Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange), who is now at 28 seconds, and Irishman Dan Martin (Etixx-QuickStep), who is now third at 31 seconds.

Biondi said Bardet's performance so far has confirmed his status as the team's leader. "It augurs well for what's to come," said Biondi. "The goal is to follow the best in the world in the mountains. Why not continue to attack? Why not take back some time on the best? He is able to attack. Romain is also an intelligent rider. He has a great temperament, is a complete rider. He is also a hard worker. He invests a lot in his work. He is a perfectionist."

But then Biondi resumes a stance of realism. "[For Bardet] to win the Tour is hard," he said. "I believe before winning the Tour you have to be psychologically sure of yourself and first get in the top five. Today the goal for Romain is to get in the top five and win a stage as he did last year [on stage 18]."

Ag2r-La Mondiale is not pressuring Bardet to win. "So we speak of top five and the podium," Biondi said. "I think Romain is capable of getting on the podium on this route."

Bardet prefers Alps over Pyrénées

The next two days will give a clearer picture of what opportunity Bardet has of matching those goals and fueling the hope of French fans longing for a local winner.

However, just as important as Thursday's 12th stage will be Friday's 13th stage, the hilly 37.5km time trial from Bourg-Saint-Andéol to La Caverne du Pont d'Arc.

Bardet, from Clermont Ferrand in the Massif Central, has ridden well in the Pyrénées. But Biondi believes he will go even better in the Alps. With the Ag2r-La Mondiale team also based in the Alpine town of Chambery, there will be plenty of expectation and support.

"I think he prefers the Alps than the Pyrénées," Biondi said. "There is more motivation there." Bardet said Monday that he will race with "attacking spirit" in the Alps.

Bardet is certainly more than satisfied with how he has performed so far this race. "After four Tour participations, it has been my best first 10 days ever," he said.

"I managed to avoid trouble. I am feeling quite well physically. I am satisfied with my legs in the Pyrénées because they are not my favorite mountains. It is only the beginning, but I am confident."

Like so many in the Tour, Bardet is a firm believer that the third week will decide all.

"For now, Froome has established himself as the boss of the peloton," Bardet said. "Quintana is really quiet but, assuredly, he is able to attack during third week. We have a strong team and my teammates are truly united trying to assist me as far as they can in the mountains.

"I am convinced our efforts will be rewarded during third week. I know my team will be my main strength for the end of the Tour."

Focus is no problem for Bardet. It has impressed many that while his cycling career has progressed, Bardet continued business studies at the Grenoble School of Management. He is regarded by many in the milieu of cycling as the "professor" of the professional peloton for his academic pursuits and penchant for reading business and political journals.

"He is very, very concentrated, focused," said Biondi. "In the race he is very, very concentrated and focused on his job, on cycling. He has been doing studies as well as competition. He is someone who can do a lot of things in his personal and professional life."

Will winning the Tour be one of them? The French hope so, even if it is too early to tell. But a win on Mont Ventoux on Bastille Day would be a triumph that all of France would share.