Hinault rubbished the idea that the French team's refusal to take drugs explains their lack of success.

"The Tour is not too hard. It is necessary to stop complaining. Cycling is a hard profession, but it is better than going to the factory. If you really want to win, you fight until your last breath. As for doping, the French have taken as much as the others," said the ex-champion.

With all the colorful, state-of-the-art helmets, stream-lined, friction-free racers and fluorescent Lycra-clad thighs illuminating French villages, countryside and open roads, it is hard to imagine the French have lost their enthusiasm for cycling. 18-year-old Pierre Grevy is one young cyclist who is quick to contest the allegations that France has lost its enthusiasm for cycling and that young talent is hard to find:

"Cycling is everything in France. My family consists of generations of cyclists. It is a way of life. It is upsetting to hear accusations about the Tour and the crazy reasons to why there has not been a French winner since 1985. Lance Armstrong is my hero and if I accomplished a tenth of the success he has had I would be overjoyed," said the young Frenchman.

Although contrary to the young cyclist's belief that "cycling is everything in France", Beatrice Houchard, author of the book, Should the Tour be stopped, believes that the Tour de France is not a true representation of life in the country today and the media hype has become more important than the actual cycling.

Like Lance Armstrong's tried and tested tactics of riding on an rival's shoulder, keeping him guessing, ready to pounce, the reasons behind France's poor performance in the Tour is also guesswork. The theories about their failure are no more well-founded than the innuendos about Armstrong's drug taking.

Yet despite all the gloomy, self-examination, this year there is an air of optimism surrounding the home team, particularly around Sandy Casar, who won the ninth stage last week.

Like all sports, cycling has its heroes but unfortunately for France none have been French in the last 25 years. The Tour has yet to conjure up a local cycling rival to match the likes of Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador. But with Sandy Casar out-racing the favorites, perhaps this will be France's year.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.h5a3.com/opinion/node_7077604.htm