It was not with a yellow jersey, but with a white shirt that Emmanuel Macron made a surprise appearance on Thursday July 21 on France 2. The President of the Republic was interviewed by Pascal Golomer in Bike Club, the program that debriefs the Tour de France and the stage that has just ended every day. After the race between Lourdes and Hautacam, the Head of State granted a ten-minute interview to the public channel.
The show, exceptionally presented by Céline Rousseaux after Laurent Luyat’s withdrawal due to health concerns, has recorded a record audience since the start of the competition with 3.1 million athletes in front of their screens, i.e. 31 9% of the public, according to figures from Médiamétrie published by Puremedia. In a press release, France 2 welcomes the audience achieved by the interview with the Head of State, watched by 3.4 million viewers. The beautiful stage won by Jonas Vingegaard, meanwhile, was followed by 5.3 million people.
“It’s a way to spend the holidays”
During his interview, Emmanuel Macron himself praised the enthusiasm of the public by the roadside “and the impressive figures on television in France and everywhere in Europe”. Asked about the popular nature of the Tour de France, the President of the Republic observed that the event represented “French heritage, landscapes, our history and sporting heritage. »
“What we saw during this Tour reminded us of the mythical mano a mano that we saw as children, that we were told about or that we saw in the archives. There is an attachment because it is a rite. The month of July means being on the road for many people, it’s a way of spending the holidays, it’s an appointment that you can’t miss, “said Emmanuel Macron, who then indicated to be in “a time trial” for the preparation of the 2024 Olympic Games.