A curiosity at Puy-du-Fou, Richard Virenque profited from the Tour de France to become just another rider. In context, his results are satisfactory to him, leading him to speak with his usual aplomb on all subjects. Even those which irritate some.

On the eve of reentering civilian life, with all its trappings and constraints, Richard Virenque is calm. This Tour de France in which he was not welcome has served him as a protective bubble. He comes out of it persuaded that if he has not convinced, he has at least vanquished. He continues to present himself as a victim still stupefied by what occurred one year ago.

Thursday evening in Bordeaux during a press conference, he spoke in a necessarily troubled manner about his damaged fate, in his own words, not easily chosen.

In brief, he crossed France without incident, faithful to a pure sporting event, adored and approved by the throngs who have taken him as their own and who shall continue to do so even if he undertakes a different discourse, even if one day he decides to soothe his conscience of a weight it may be carrying. The tour was his life preserver. He becomes philosophical: "There are those who like me and are on my side, there are those who do not like me. Everyone has the freedom of speech."

For the first time in a year, his name has not been cited from near or from afar except for his performance which he considers satisfactory: "Fifth in the classification (likely to change today in the time trial) winner for the fifth time of best climber, while I was the least well prepared of all the riders, that gives me the right to say that I had a good Tour", he states. "Many people thought that I would just disappear from the general classification. Put yourself in my place and put yourself in the place of the other riders. Compare how we prepared. The 15th of June I was on vacation. I let training slide, I did not eat right, I did not make the sacrifices which should have been made."

"I was so harassed that I was reacting to many things", he continued without for an instant imagining that perhaps he was harassing himself with his unreasonable obstinacy which is also his incredible force when he sticks to bike racing.

Reinvigorated by a few thousand kilometers, he issues further unreachable challenges: "I still dream of winning the Tour." One listens to him with open mouth, amused and impressed by such audacity. "I know", he says, "some think that is impossible. But I like impossible challenges. I have finished fifth, third, second, and again fifth (for the moment). Each year I am not far behind. One day I hope to win the Tour. To get there I would need a Tour with a lot of mountain stages, better preparation over the entire season, and a stronger team."

Among his unending challenges, he launches an appeal to the to the organizers with whom he is content to have resumed a polite relationship. He is asked, of course, about Jean-Marie Leblanc, the man who excluded him: "I gave my answer on the bicycle", he replies, before adding: "Jean-Marie Leblanc has made some remarks about me which please me. If I had not passed the sponge, if I had not been diplomatic, I think I would have halted my career. I owe so much to so many people. As M. Stanga (his team director) puts it -- it's necessary to stay calm".

At this point, he breaks into a big smile that serves as his shield. He reviews his morning small talk he had with the director of the Tour. The rain, the nice weather, the public. He explains that he did not have arrangements for his family and that the Tour organizers took care of all that without problems.

He speaks about everything. About this Tour which has been so fast: "Maybe there are some [riders] who have had more sore legs than usual (yes, yes, he said that). But I would point out that it is the same riders as before who win the sprints and who are well placed in the general classification."

On Lance Armstrong, buckle your seat belts: "For two years he fought his illness. Today he is fighting against human idiocy. He has become a target. Instead of tipping a hat to him, efforts were made to tarnish his accomplishment. That's not right."

On Christophe Bassons, sensitive readers please skip this paragraph: "He was used to create a polemic. I hope he will now be able to concentrate on his sports career. He became a professional to ride a bike. Before going and making declarations about others whom are in my profession, I would try first to get to the top of my field. If I thought certain things about riders who have more class than me, I would keep my comments to myself."

On life in the peloton, too bad for the French [riders]: "Internationally, I am respected more than before; that pleases me. As for the French, some are not in agreement with me. They give me a hard time to some extent. What can you do? They would do better to attend to their sporting effort. But I do not live for them."

He spoke also of the World Championships coming up in October, a subject he discussed with Jalabert when the latter visited the Tour when it passed through Albi: I would like to participate on the French team. If I am asked, I will be ready. But I have a feeling that I would sacrifice for nothing, like last year, when I am not wanted. At the last minute, one would find something to make sure I'm not at the starting line. If the French team needs me, I'll be there. It would be necessary to let me know relatively soon."

That's the long and short of it at the end of an adventure from which he had evidently come out stronger than before. When asked if he fears what is to follow, the affairs that surround him, he masks his response behind provocative demagoguery: "Today we are in a Tour that is transparent. There are drug checks. Many things are in place and I am still here. Those who love the sport and have faith in this line of work must understand some things (yes, yes, he said that too). It is possible that the problems will catch up with me. I will make do. I will concentrate on my races and on my career. I didn't kill anyone."

Richard Virenque is disarming. If one didn't know certain things, he would even be convincing.