The Tour de France has long been a battleground where cycling's heavyweights clash in pursuit of glory – but Tadej Pogacar is facing a different kind of challenge: being loved to loathing by the very fans he's dominating. Reports from Tuesday's stage to Le Lioran in the Cantal region reveal that catcalls were hurled at the Slovenian sensation, a reaction that may escalate as the Tour descends into the treacherous Alps. History shows us that this is no rare phenomenon – past champions like Chris Froome and the legendary Eddy Merckx have all faced similar ire from the crowds.
The roots of this French cycling conundrum stretch back to the 1960s, when Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor locked horns in a rivalry that would define an era. 'Master Jacques' was the cold, calculating machine who won with precision, while 'PouPou' – the 'noble peasant' – consistently gave it his all, even if he never quite sealed the deal. This dichotomy has left an indelible mark on French cycling folklore, where valiant failure is cherished above dominant success. The MJPP principle (Master Jacques-PouPou) still holds sway, with fans favouring the underdog over the overwhelming favourite.
Today's social media platforms amplify this sentiment, nowhere more so than on the Federation Francaise de la Lose Instagram account, which boasts 350,000 followers and celebrates those who don't win. The motto 'la defaite est en nous' (defeat is within us) encapsulates the national psyche perfectly – just ask Thibaut Pinot, whose heroic solo attack in 2023 was met with adoration before his subsequent victory was booed.
It's a paradox that has plagued even multiple Tour winners like Bernard Hinault, who faced periods of derision before finding wider acceptance by embracing a more maverick approach. Laurent Fignon's heroic defeat in 1989 was a prime example – it won him far more fans than his victories ever could.
A notable exception to this trend was Miguel Induráin, who managed to avoid the backlash despite dominating for five consecutive years. His success came before the doping scandals that tainted the sport, and his team's considerate image helped prevent him from being seen as a ruthless winner – he even allowed other riders to win individual stages, sparing himself the criticism of 'hogging the sweeties'.