The Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 will be a major challenge for the French professional cyclist Romain Bardet to an emotional farewell from the big cycling stage. Before the final stage of his career, the riders honoured the 34-year-old with a special tribute. In a tribute organised by his Team Picnic PostNL shared video shows Bardet being celebrated by the riders. The peloton around Tadej Pogačar stands with their bikes and applauds Bardet.
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The Frenchman ends his active career after 13.5 years in the professional peloton. Bardet was long regarded as the host nation's great hope for the first Tour de France victory since Bernard Hinault in 1985, and although he was not quite able to fulfil the high expectations in this respect, the climbing specialist can still look back on an extremely successful career.
Highlights of an impressive career
The greatest successes in Bardet's palmarès include two podium finishes at the Tour de France. In 2016, he finished second overall behind Chris Froome, followed by third place a year later. He also won the mountains classification at the 2019 Tour of France. Bardet also made an impression at other grand tours: he finished seventh overall at the 2021 Giro d'Italia. In addition to his successes in the Grand Tours, the Frenchman also celebrated notable results in the Ardennes Classics. He finished third in Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2018 and even second in 2024.
Farewell to a crowd favourite
Romain Bardet, one of the most popular French professional cyclists, is leaving the international cycling stage. His aggressive riding style and modest manner made him a fan favourite. The emotional tribute at the Critérium du Dauphiné shows the esteem in which Bardet is held in cycling.
