'Tadej could do it' – Bernard Hinault tips Pogacar for Grand Tour clean sweep

'The Badger' stands as part of an exclusive club of riders who have five Tours to their name alongside Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Induráin. When asked by La Gazetta dello Sport what his overriding memories were from forty years ago, Hinault had plenty that came to mind.

"There are so many memories. Every Tour is like a novel. But right away, I think of the yellow jersey on day one in Plumelec, among my own Breton people," Hinault said. "And the crash in Saint-Étienne. I got up with a broken nose, covered in blood, but I made it to the finish line. In the Pyrenees, I had to suffer, but I reached Paris still in yellow."

When asked if he had any regrets about the agreement he made to help teammate Greg LeMond, who finished 2nd in 1985, to win the Tour the following year, Hinault denied any sort of feelings. "I will never regret anything. Every choice has meaning in its moment. No point in going back."

Remarkably, Hinault's success in 1985 remains the last time that a French rider won the Tour de France, and he was asked when he thinks the French drought will end. 

“That’s what everyone asks. Forty years is a long time. And I don’t see anyone on the horizon ready to match talents like Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel," Hinault said. There’s Almeida, Del Toro, and a young Slovenian who won the Giro Next Gen [Jakob Omrzel] ... but I think France will have to wait a bit longer.”

Hinault was then asked why he thinks there has been such a long drought, and if any mistakes were made, and he responded by suggesting that France has since produced many great riders, but not all have been necessarily suited to racing for the general classification at the Tour de France.

“No. France had good riders, even champions, but not suited for Grand Tours," Hinault said. "What hurts is that none of the young ones ever came to ask me for advice. Not once. I would have had something to say. At the very least, I could have shared a bit of my experience.”

Having mentioned the talent of both Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, Hinault was asked whether he expects the Tour de France to be a battle between the duo for the fifth consecutive edition.

"Absolutely. They’re the clear favourites. Based on what we saw at the Dauphiné, I think it will be hard to beat Pogacar. Tadej is phenomenal.”

Hinault, very complimentary of Pogačar, even backed the possibility that the Slovenian could potentially win all three Grand Tours, the Giro, Tour and Vuelta in one season. "Pogačar could do it. And I wouldn’t rule out him trying in the coming years. The calendar makes it possible. If I were racing now, I’d go for it – and I’d know how to prepare for it.”

Reflecting on his life on the bike, Hinault revealed some interesting insights about his early days before turning professional, including his first-ever race and early successes. 

“I was 17. I raced on a 14-kilo steel bike – not even a proper race bike. But I was so determined. I told my mother I’d bring her flowers from the podium. It was in Planguenoual, near Yffiniac, where I was born. I stayed with the leaders and launched a sprint 500 meters from the line. No one could respond. I came home with the trophy and the flowers. I won my first four races.”

Hinault made his Tour debut in 1978, three years after turning professional, "but only after I raced the Vuelta first - to see if I could handle three weeks. I won it. Then I felt ready."

With an extraordinary record of 10 Grand Tour victories from 13 starts - 5 Tours, 3 Giros and 2 Vueltas, something only beaten by Merckx, Hinault retired on his 32nd birthday in 1986. When asked why he didn't aim for a record sixth Tour, Hinault explained that LeMond's humility at the end of the 1986 Tour was part of the reason, as well as the ambition to retire whilst still at the top of the sport.

"I would have, if LeMond hadn't publicly said he won thanks to me. I know myself: if he hadn't been honest, I would've come back to prove I could win again," Hinault said. "My models were Anquetil and Merckx. They were great until 32, then faded. I didn't want to go through the decline. I kept my word."

Hinault was also revealing about some of his best days on the bike, including his best memories of the Giro d'Italia, a race which he won three times in his career (1980, 1982, 1985). “So many. I won it three times in three appearances. I always loved the support of Italian fans. Even if they cheered for Moser, Saronni, Baronchelli or Panizza – when I was strongest, they applauded me. Italy is my second home.”

The Frenchman also said that the greatest day he had on the bike was when he became world champion in 1980, winning solo in front of his home nation's crowds in Sallanches, France.

“The World Championships at Sallanches in 1980. I promised our national coach we’d win. I didn’t say ‘I will win’, but ‘we will win’, because a champion finishes the work of the team. When I dropped Baronchelli, who was super strong that day, I felt joy for everyone. I was sure of victory that morning. I even asked the hotel to chill champagne.”

Beyond the Grand Tours, Hinault was a rare breed of rider who could turn his hand to almost any race he started, such as the classics. He won a snowy edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 1980 and recalled the memories of that famous victory.

“That day was hell. One degree. I wanted to quit. But when I was in the lead, I couldn’t. My motto was ‘As long as I breathe, I attack.’ I finished almost ten minutes ahead of Kuiper. But I still don’t feel a few fingers fully – they froze that day.”

As well as winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the following year in 1981, in the rainbow jersey, Hinault conquered Paris-Roubaix, becoming one of 14 riders in the history of the sport to win both the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix, and the last rider to achieve the feat, despite not particularly liking the race. 

“Too dangerous. I didn’t love it, but everyone said I had to win it. So in 1981, in the rainbow jersey, I beat De Vlaeminck and Moser. Got off my bike and said: ‘Done. Never again.”

Hinault was asked who he is toughest rival was and said, "In the Tour, [Joop] Zoetemelk. In one-day races: [Francesco] Moser, [Giuseppe] Saronni, [Freddy] Maertens, [Roger] De Vlaeminck," Hinault said. "Lucien Van Impe. Unstoppable in the mountains," he responded when asked who the best climber of his time was.

Reflecting on his relationships with his rivals then and now, Hinault made it clear that he has good friendships with many of those he raced against, and that during his career, it was strictly about winning that mattered most.

"On the bike I had no friends, but now I’m close with Merckx, Zoetemelk, Thévenet, Moser... there’s not a single ex-rider I don’t get along with," Hinault said. When asked, Even Greg LeMond? Hinault responded, “Of course. When he was diagnosed with leukaemia, I called him. He was surprised but appreciated it.”

Hinault was also asked what he thought of the new rules in cycling, such as neutralising GC times from 5 kilometres out in sprint stages and limiting gears.

“Soon they’ll neutralise from the start... I don’t think gearing is the problem. If it were up to me, I’d abolish bike computers and earpieces. Riders crash today because they’re staring at their data and not the road.”

Now living in Brittany, with his wife of over 50 years, Martine, and as grandfather of two, Hinault insists he is a happy man, and still rides his bike regularly and follows the sport closely. "I'd like to ride more and be home more, but people keep calling me all over the world - especially this year, for the 40th anniversary of my last Tour," Hinault said. 

'I'm healthy and I have a great family -  two daughters and two grandkids, aged 8 and 10. I feel very lucky."