To hold the yellow jersey on Bastille Day is always a special moment for a French rider. And Tony Gallopin is about to feel the thrills of a lifetime on a bike in the stage to La Planche des Belles Filles.

Others had the same experience, like Vincent Barteau, a Bastille Day Tour leader 30 years ago, who also won a stage on July 14 in Marseille in 1989 for the bicentenary of the French Revolution.

"The yellow jersey, I was young, it was my first participation. I didn't fully realise and that was fine. When you're young, you just enjoy the moment. My stage win was different. I was older, I had experience and knowledge," said the former team-mate of Laurent Fignon.

"But it's true those two feats made me extremely popular. It doesn't take much when you think about it!"

Ironically, Vincent Barteau could not fully enjoy his yellow jersey straightaway since July 14 was a rest day in 1984: "At least I didn't lose it!"

This year the ASO has chosen to let the peloton go through the last of three stages in the Vosges.  

Convinced that the yellow jersey "gives you wings", he is not certain that Tony Gallopin will lose it today while he sees Thibaut Pinot or Pierre Rolland quite capable of continuing the national day celebrations.