No victory but French duo win Tour fans' hearts

Cycling - Tour de France - The 59.5-km Stage 20 from Albertville to Val Thorens - July 27, 2019 - Deceuninck-Quick Step rider Julian Alaphilippe of France reacts after the finish. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

PARIS (Reuters) - Julian Alaphilippe surrendered the yellow jersey in the penultimate competitive stage and Thibaut Pinot was left sobbing at roadside as he abandoned in the Alps, yet this French duo restored the pride of a cycling nation and revived hopes of a long-awaited home-grown winner of the Tour de France.

World number one Alaphilippe claimed the overall lead with a long-planned attack in Epernay and wore yellow for 14 days until he cracked in the Col de l'Iseran and dropped from the podium places on the eve of the parade to the Champs Elysees.