A STEADY MARCH: THE STORY SO FAR

2011

In top U23 races, gets second in LBL Espoirs, fourth in the Ronde de l’Isard and a stage win in Avenir. Most impressive is 11th overall against WT-level rivals in the Tour de l’Ain.

2012

Signs for Ag2r. No wins, but fourth in the Tour of Turkey and 12th in the Tour of Poland are GC highlights. Best placing is second at a Tour de l’Ain stage, behind contemporary Thibaut Pinot of FDJ.

2013

Lands his irst win, the GC of the Tour de l’Ain, and debuts at the Tour, coming 15th overall, with a series of consistent inishes. Also inishes 13th in Liège, in the group that sprints for sixth place.

2014

Sixth in the Tour is the highlight, though he is also fourth in Catalunya, 10th in Liège, ifth in the Dauphiné and GP Montréal, and 11th in Lombardy. The sole win is in the Drôme Classic.

2015

Falters a little in the Tour, but still takes a stage win and comes ninth. Bardet is also sixth in both Liège and the Dauphiné. As in 2013, he’s the highest ranking Frenchman on the Tour’s GC.

2016

Takes a strong stage win at the Tour en route to coming second overall to Chris Froome. Also second in the Dauphiné, 13th at Liège, 8th at Paris-Nice, 6th in Trentino and 4th in Il Lombardia.