Tony Gallopin is going into his first Tour de France as a Lotto Belisol rider and knows that his main tasks are to support André Greipel and Jurgen Van Den Broeck. However, the Frenchman also hopes to get his personal opportunities in the medium mountain stages.

Two days left till the Grand Départ of the 101st Tour de France in Leeds, England. For Tony Gallopin it's his fourth participation, the first with Lotto Belisol. The Frenchman talks about his role during this Tour, his shape and gives his opinion about this year's route.
 
 "I did everything I could to start this Tour with an optimal shape," he said. "My performances in the Critérium du Dauphiné reassured me about my condition. As the week progressed, I got better. The French championships of last weekend didn't take place on a course that suited my skills, it was cut out for sprinters (Gallopin became 10th). But the feeling I had along the way did indicate a good condition.
 
"In the Tour I will help with the preparation for the bunch sprints, to bring Greipel's train to the five last kilometers. In other stages I will try to assist Jurgen Van den Broeck until the last climb, as I did in the Dauphiné.

"On the other hand I can have a go of my own in certain stages. That's when there isn't a bunch sprint in the cards and the course isn't tough enough for the GC riders, like this Sunday in the stage to Sheffield. On such days I will try to get in a break and I can pursue a good result. Also in the Vosges there are opportunities for me.
 
"I'm counting down the days till Saturday. I would like it to begin now. We did a recon of the first stage and the course is definitely not that flat, but it's suited for André Greipel. You notice the Tour atmosphere here, houses and villages are decorated.

"This edition has one of the most beautiful courses of the last years. There's a good mix between stages for sprinters, punchers, escapees and GC riders. Everyone who stands at the start is proud to be selected for the Tour. For a Frenchman it's even more special because the biggest part takes place in our country."