Along with the national football team at the World Cup, this month, the sporting ambitions of the French nation lie with teenage phenomenon Paul Seixas, tackling the Tour de France for the first time.
Though the greatest difficulties of the race lie in the 11 stages to come, the 19-year-old has admirably risen to meet the challenges of his first nine days on Tour. Ahead of a tough, sawtooth-profiled test through the Massif Central on stage 10, he lies sixth overall, 28 seconds off a podium spot.
