Reflections on the Tour de France

Paris is a special place in your heart and life,

if you like. Let's go!

I mean, my earliest memories of the tour was when my dad put it on

in the summer and me and my brother were mad that we had to turn off our cartoons,

but now I think,

well, the first time...

It's probably some point watching Sagan win some cool uphill finish

or something like this and just feeling the hype around it.

And then I remember I was on a bikepacking trip with my dad and we saw Vuelta stage,

and I think that, for me, was already, like, you see

a bit of the show and then the first time you experience the tour in person, it's

really special.

Especially for an American rider, it's the only time cycling's even a sport, really.

And it's why we all...

I mean, it's why you want to be a rider, so...

French people, they love the Americans.

Jersey it seems and you know I think part of that also comes with the way we raced

last year I think I did quite a good tour and you know with performance

also comes the fans and then if you can do it in a nice way

I think people like this.

So I think I remember in the morning before Paris

both our team doc and Steven my director came to the room or on the bus before and

they're like yeah Quinn you've become a real professional today and then when you

turn on to the Champs Élysées I think that I think that's true I think I mean to be

a professional riders to be at the top of the sport and the tour is the top of the

sport period so if you can finish this race you're one of the 200 best in the

world and there's no other event that can say this it

doesn't matter which discipline you're doing these are the 200 best period

and if you can be there

and get through it when you first come to Paris the first time okay I made it

and now Paris holds a special place in your heart and life if you like

Yeah, I think after last year it will always be a special place,

not just for the bike race.