Few debutants on this Tour de France have had it as good as Ben Gastauer. Part of a thriving AG2R team, with two riders in the top 10 and a stage win for Blel Kadri in Gerardmer, he is aware of his luck.

"It's true that I couldn't dream to make my Tour debut in better conditions with a team who win and with two leaders well placed in the GC. Blel's stage win really eased the pressure and also gave us ideas", said the lean Luxembourg rider, already used two grand Tours with three Giros and two Vueltas. 

"This Tour de France started pretty well for me. I didn't crash. Then we're now in the mountains which are one of my favorite terrains because I don't climb too badly," added the team-mate of Romain Bardet and Jean-Christophe Peraud.

"I would have loved to do a little better in the Vosges, which are close to home but I didn't manage to go in the right break."

The Alps allowed him to be the last launch pad for Bardet ad Peraud, lifting himself to 25th overall, the third pest placed rider in the best team in the race.  Ben Gastauer will now seize his chance whenever possible. Meanwhile, he relishes his participation in the greatest cycling show on earth. 

"The difference is the crowds. I had never seen as many people as we had in England and I don't think I'll ever see it again."