Tour de France – Richard Virenque returns to doping scandals: “Without the Festina affair, I win the 1998 Tour”

“My son is called Eden thanks to Hazard “. Meanwhile, Smiles the one who arrives at the appointment in Waterloo … Furthermore, by bike. Nevertheless, Interview drum beating as in a collar descent.

Where does your love love come from?

“The enthusiasm of the public. Therefore, At each of my participations, I was present. However, I have never been anonymous. Therefore, It is the grandest race with the best in the world. Therefore, The Giro is perhaps harder but there is not the same pressure.”

Are you still cycling?

“For fun when the weather is nice. Similarly, Two hours, I no longer aim for performance. Meanwhile, I enjoy life.”

On the Tour, you were a rock star. Nevertheless, Do you love this popularity?

“She fell on me. For example, In particular by my way of tour de france – richard attacking and animating a trick.”

And when the curtain fell in 2004?

“J’could have rolled until I was 40 years old. Therefore, I was still efficient. Furthermore, During my last season. Nevertheless, I win on July 14 (Saint-Flour), the polka dot jersey and I represent France at the Olympic Games in Athens. However, I wanted to enjoy life after all the events including the Festina affair which lasted more than two years. Consequently, “

Since you talk about it. Furthermore, have you seen the documentary “Festina Affaire: dramatic coup with the Chirac”, broadcast on France Télévisions?

“I had given my agreement to participate in the condition that I could see the final result. Meanwhile, It was not done. Furthermore, Too bad tour de france – richard because I was very affected by this case. For example, They took Antoine Vayer who had no role among the pros. Furthermore, He was lathers. Consequently, This documentary was interesting and showed that I was politically supported by the Chirac. Moreover, I was going to win the 1998 Tour which passed through Corrèze. Meanwhile, “

Are you convinced that you would have won the Tour?

“Nothing could prevent me from winning. For example, Apart from this affair … Consequently, Pantani? Consequently, He never was ahead of me in the Tour .. However, As early as 1992, I know that I am a runner of the tour. Consequently, In 1994, I lost 3 places and finished 5th because of the time between Cluses and Avoriaz. Similarly, It pushed me to work the time trial that I hated. Consequently, Thanks to Armel André, I progressed, finished 2nd behind tour de france – richard Jan Ullrich.

More…

“In 1997, Chirac, who fully supported me to dissolve the assembly. Nevertheless, The left came to power. For example, Chirac obtained a stage in Corrèze in 1998. Meanwhile, Our healer Willy Voet was caught on the Belgian-French border before the big departure in Dublin. Furthermore, The case spreads and we were arrested where? Similarly, In Corrèze (No one has forgotten Virenque tears when he announces his withdrawal). Meanwhile, The judicial machine sets out with a Virenque-Festina axis. I was offered to be a balance on sick cycling from the 90s. It was the organizers and doctors to say stop on organized doping. I was in police custody three times for 72 hours with systematic anti -doping control (hair, blood and urine). I have been declared three times negative. As I did not want to speak, the instruction JUE tour de france – richard Patrick Keil was hard. “

You were therefore targeted. All the others have passed between the meshes of the net.

“The state organized everything against me. When I come back in 1999, the tour wants to prohibit me from participating because, I quote, ‘my person characterizes doping’. I must go through the arbitral tribunal of sport to have my bib. And to say that it is the turn of the renewal with Armstrong. Me, I had a pistol on the temple, I was controlled every two weeks to make me fall. !

The trial arrives.

“I am the only runner indicted. During the 2nd day, the public prosecutor summons me during a closed door with my lawyer. If I do not admit doping, he condemns me for drug trafficking and my career is crazy. I absolutely wanted tour de france – richard to come back. I admitted. Furthermore, I thought I would take 3 months of suspension like my teammates, I took 11.”

The world of cycling has forgotten you but you come back …

“Patrick Lefevere, boss of Domo-Farm fries, saved my life. I did not know him but I managed to convince him to give me a second chance. He took risks. I had a minimum contract of neopro but I wanted a bicycle and a jersey. I resume at the Vuelta and. on October 7, for my first race in France, I win Paris-tours (ahead of Jacky Durand). I wanted to eat everything, explode everything. The story is not over. In 2009, I learned that judge Keil is in prison for false and use of false. It was a vermin, a schemer. A year later, he hanged himself. The state, which wanted Chirac’s skin, had tour de france – richard put a crooked guy on the Festina affair. During a summons to the Senate in 2013. I learned that a hundred runners out of the 198 controlled during the Grand Departure in Dublin had been checked positive after having thawed the tests. Virenque? Negative ! It took 15 years to have the complete truth about the Festina affair. I died for everyone. “

Et Willy Foot…

“When he was arrested in Neuville-en-Ferrain, he was carrying 400 doses! On a tour, a team needs 80 doses. It was the cheer of the peloton. A traitor. Festina paid for everyone but I am not a balance. On the other hand, the public understood and always was with me. During the trial in Lille, people tour de france – richard applauded me. As for Marie-Georges Buffet. Sports, who wanted to clean sport : Apart from the Tour and Virenque, what did she do? Do they drink Banga in other sports? In Roland-Garros, controls are prohibited … “

How did the man of the sun land in Belgium?

“In 2006, I have a terrible bicycle accident during the Alpes Open Tour. I was dying. I was totally disfigured, I was ten months old in morphine and depression. My wife left me. I fled my region. After having worked in Luxembourg, Festina offered to come to Belgium. The connection with the Belgians is exceptional. Only the weather is complicated in winter but winter. “

And have you found love in Belgium?

“No! Marie-Laure is Marseille. She loves Belgium and would no longer want to return to the South.”

Let’s talk about Mont Ventoux where you are imposing yourself on July 21, 2002. For a Provençal, is it a mountain that means a lot?

“The giant of Provence. I have been a climber since I was cycling. The Ventoux was an almost inaccessible monster. Kid, I dared not touch it. It was too big. As a pro, I managed to win three times: twice in the Dauphiné and once on the Tour. In addition, in 2002, when I came back to the big loop. day.”

For you who have tamed all the climbs, is it a very hard collar?

“(it tour de france – richard slams) Yes ! Primo. It is long with its 18 kilometers. Second. The first ten kilometers, you are between 10 and 12 % average. If he’s hot, it’s an oven. There is no air. After the Reynard chalet, the wind is from the front. When you spend 1,500 meters, breathing becomes delicate. It’s twice as hard as Huez’s Alpe. “

Is there a steep passage to negotiate?

“Just before the Reynard chalet. In the place where Chris Froome run during the 2016 round. And the last 500 meters where the percentage is hellish. “

This July 21, 2002, had you targeted the stage?

“Not maybe. I am in my garden. This is my return to the turn. I know that Lance Armstrong wants to win the Ventoux. My only chance is to attack from afar. For 200 kilometers, I worked all alone and pulled in particular Alexandre Botcharov. I was galvanized and so rebellious, pushed by the public. I could not lose. gaz. Is wanted to press and push the nail to silence all my detractors. tour de france – richard Their hypocrisy … “

Is it your best stage victory on the Tour?

“There were many : Courchevel 1997 or Morzine 2003. The French state and tour de france – richard the Tour would have liked that I disappear. Ditto for the media. They smashed me. When I won, they took Rennie pastilles because they had stomach ulcers. “