Bardet's polka dots save French blushes

‘Reinvented’ Ag2r rider takes to the stage in Paris for the fifth time

In a Tour de France where the host nation had its best showing in decades, with two riders in contention for the overall win, it was the weakest of the French GC men that took home a prize.

Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) claimed the polka-dot mountain points jersey in relatively low-key style.

The Frenchman had fallen out of overall contention early in the race and got himself into the break on stage 18 where he rode to a series of second places over the Col de Vars, Izoard and Galibier, collecting 68 points and propelling him to the top of the classification.