French champion Romain Gregoire laments the stranglehold " global superstars" have on Tour de France stage wins, but refuses to lose hope ahead of a special Bastille Day stage.

Nothing captures the imagination of the French cycling public more than a home winner on Bastille Day.

Cycling's Tour de France has become so hard that only "global superstars" are able to win even a single stage, French champion Romain Gregoire moaned on Monday's first rest day.

French champion Romain Gregoire laments the stranglehold " global superstars" have on Tour de France stage wins, but refuses to lose hope ahead of a special Bastille Day stage.