The French Drought Begins

Merckx's era coincided with—and partly caused—French cycling's decline. Bernard Thévenet's victories in 1975 and 1977 provided brief respite, but these were exceptions in an increasingly barren landscape. The last French winner before Thévenet had been Roger Pingeon in 1967. After Thévenet, France would wait until 1985 for Bernard Hinault's final victory, then enter a drought lasting decades.

Systematic Failures

French cycling's decline reflected deeper issues than individual talent. Other nations, particularly Belgium and Italy, had professionalized youth development while France relied on traditional club systems. Sports science advanced elsewhere while French cycling clung to old-fashioned methods. The rise of systematic doping programs, which France was slower to embrace, created competitive disadvantages that clean riding couldn't overcome.

Cultural factors also contributed. Cycling's working-class image clashed with France's modernizing self-image. Talented French athletes increasingly chose other sports offering better career prospects and social status. The grinding lifestyle of professional cycling—constant travel, dangerous racing, uncertain income—appealed less to youth with expanding opportunities elsewhere.