From naval engineer to the Tour de France: Baptiste Veistroffer ready to attack on debut

Baptiste Veistroffer’s route to the Tour de France has been anything but conventional.

Four years ago, he was outside professional cycling and working as an engineer building ships for the French Navy. Now, in only his third season as a professional, the Frenchman is preparing to start the biggest race in the sport.

"I still sometimes can't believe it," he admitted. "If you know my past, like I started cycling as a pro three years ago, and four years ago I started cycling, and in four years I'm riding the Tour de France. It's crazy."

Veistroffer had initially been expected to ride the Giro d’Italia, but Lotto-Intermarché later moved him onto its Tour de France long list.

His final chance to secure a place came after an altitude camp in the Sierra Nevada and a strong performance at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The confirmation eventually followed, ending a period of uncertainty over his summer programme.

Veistroffer will primarily be expected to work for his teammates, helping the team’s sprinters and positioning its puncheurs before more selective finishes.

However, the 26-year-old also hopes to show the aggressive racing style that helped earn him selection. Breakaways will be an important part of his ambitions during the three weeks.

"The goal is to take many breakaways," he explained to Domestique. "The big goal can be to win a stage. I already know it's not impossible."

He is aware that making a breakaway at the Tour is considerably harder than in most other races. With dozens of riders targeting the same stages, timing and positioning can matter as much as physical strength.

The Frenchman also hopes the home crowds will provide an additional lift when he gets the chance to attack.

"I will use this crowd to support and to have extra power," he said.

Veistroffer’s Tour debut comes during the final year of his current contract, with speculation already building over where he could ride next season.

For now, he has little interest in discussing his future.

"For now I don't give a shit," he stated. "I just go a hundred percent for the Tour. I don't think about any shit in the newspaper... I just want to do the best Tour de France ever I can do."

His attention is firmly on the opening stage in Barcelona and on making the most of his first appearance at the race.

Veistroffer also spoke highly of Paul Seixas, who will begin the Tour carrying considerable French expectations.

"He's really friendly, open discussion, cool, and also he's sometimes rude about himself, but he's fair," Veistroffer noted.

He expects Seixas to attract significant attention throughout July, both from television audiences and the crowds lining the route. For Veistroffer, that growing excitement around French cycling will only add to the experience of making his own Tour debut.