Five-time winner of the Tour de France, Bernard Hinault has announced that he will retire from his podium duties at the race for family reasons.
For the past number of years, Hinault has been handing over the various jerseys to the classification leaders at the end of each stage. As part of this role, he also took care of anyone who dared to try and jump on the podium.
On a number of occasions, interlopers took to the podium including a man in full Française des Jeux kit at the 2009 Tour, and this man in a high-vis vest who interrupted the jersey giving presentation at the 2008 race.
Another incident took place after the final stage of the 2012 Tour in Paris where once again, Hinault came to the rescue.
“I have the right to retire,” he told Europe 1. “I have given to many things and I hope to enjoy retirement. I have a grandson of 16 months, I have two children that I did not see grow up, so I want to see my grandson.”
“I have friends who are gone, sometimes younger, sometimes older. I’ll try to enjoy some of life. Although the Tour and the races are exciting, I want to be a little closer to my family.”
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