Halgand restores flagging French pride with stage win

FOR a nation which gave birth to the greatest cycle race in the world, the French have had little to cheer about in the Tour de France recently.

But they were given a welcome fillip yesterday when Patrice Halgand became the first native to win a stage this year, claiming stage 10 with a brave attack seven kilometres from the finish in Pau.

It is now 17 years since the great Bernard Hinault last won the race and the next home champion is nowhere in sight. That moribund future was darkened further yesterday with that Laurent Jalabert the only French rider inside the current top 20 in the Tour standings intends to retire at the end of the season.