Having acted as the ambassador for Africa’s biggest race, La Tropicale Amissa Bongo in Gabon, Bernard Hinault is best placed to comment on the rise of African cycling. The rise has prompted him to declare that an African rider can win the Tour soon.

"They are closing the gap and some of them are already at the same level as European riders," says Hinault in an interview with Ouest France. "That was already evident last year with the victory of Natnael Berhane, who was then riding with Europcar. I'll say again, this continent has riders of real talent, and they've now got the equipment they need, that's no longer a problem. What they need now are good coaches and federations that truly want to support them."

"These guys have perhaps got something else on their side, and that's their hunger to succeed! They really want to get out of the difficulties they find themselves in, just as we did 60 or 70 years ago. If you become a high-level athlete, that gives you the chance to better yourself, to make a better life for yourself."

Big strides have already been made, with MTN-Qhubeka, Berhane’s current team, becoming the first African team to be invited to the Tour de France in 2015. They possess young climbers like Merhawi Kudus and Louis Meintjes, who could well challenge for the Tour in the next five years.