Can Intermarché's revelation impress in his first Tour? "When I was looking for a change of scenery..."

“The most significant factor in my progress this season is undoubtedly the race calendar established with the team, which is perfectly suited to my profile,” the Frenchman explained in a press release about his strong year. After a fairly anonymous 2024 with Arkéa-B&B Hotels, Barré is enjoying better results this year. He finished sixth in the Classic Var, eighth in the Trofeo Laigueglia, third in Paris-Camembert and, as a highlight, even sixth in the Amstel Gold Race. He then came close to a stage win in both the Tour de Romandie and the Critérium du Dauphiné, with three top-10 finishes.

“When I was looking for a change of scenery in 2024, Intermarché-Wanty was the only team to offer me a clear, personalized program, even including a first Tour de France and a real vision for my future,” said the 25-year-old Frenchman, explaining his move. “They immediately put their trust in me, giving me a leadership role in tough classics and a stage hunter role in multi-day races. I'm very satisfied that I seized this great opportunity with Intermarché-Wanty, as I've been reaping the rewards since my very first races of the year.”

Barré traveled to Andorra to prepare for the hilly classics at altitude. “After a first part of the season focused on hilly classics, I joined the team on an altitude training camp in Andorra. It was the first time I prepared competition on altitude, so I approached the Dauphiné without pressure to perform. In the end I felt good and was even able to participate in the fight for a stage win on the third day,” said the Frenchman.

For a long time, Barré was in the top 10 in the French stage race. "My top 10 in the general classification after the time trial was a pleasant surprise. I also enjoyed the Combloux stage with a 15- to 20-minute effort on the climb to the finish, ideal for my puncher profile. The next day, I kept up well on the Col de la Madeleine alongside the favorites, all the way to the top of the subsequent Col de la Croix de Fer. It was an excellent test, as I had never raced in the high mountains before."

It is these new experiences that Barré is learning a lot from this year. "This season has been full of new experiences so far, which has allowed me to improve in several areas and even achieve results in races that aren't perfectly suited to me, like my podium finish at Paris-Camembert. This winter I strongly increased my focus on nutrition, with the daily input of our sports dietitian Astrid Roekens.”

“I pushed myself hard in the heat during that week at the Critérium du Dauphiné, where every stage was high-intensity. That's why my trainer Frederik Veuchelen and I have planned a recovery period and heat training sessions on rollers to extend the benefits of our altitude camp. This will allow me to fully capitalize on my form for the Giro dell'Appennino, the French Championships, and then arrive completely ready for the start of my first Tour de France. I can't wait!”

Veuchelen looks back with satisfaction on the first six months with Barré. "Last winter, we embarked on a true journey of discovery with Louis Barré. Many aspects of our performance plan were completely new to him: a well-structured altitude training camp, his first high-mountain races, our aerodynamic tests on the velodrome, and his debuts at the Dauphiné and the Tour de France. Our approach proved to be a winning combination for him, with new training stimuli, increased attention to nutrition, and excellent equipment support. Our integrated periodization method, built into Louis's personalized annual program, marked a crucial change for him both physically and mentally."

“This is evident in his results, but also in his performances that weren't immediately reflected in the rankings. I'm thinking, for example, of his climb of La Redoute at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He made the fastest ascent behind Tadej Pogačar to correct his poor positioning at the bottom. His power and duration profile shows that he excels in medium-duration efforts. That's why his efforts in preparation for the Tour de France are focused on stage victories, as he brilliantly demonstrated at the Dauphiné. The Tour will also be an important step in his development, as he has never raced for more than ten days until now. We hope he will continue to surprise us, as we are certainly not yet at the end of his progression."

With the punchy stages in the first week of the Tour de France, there are certainly opportunities for Barré. He hopes for a spectacular performance in his home country, while the team hopes to sprinkle some magic. Last year, the team won no fewer than three stages with Biniam Girmay, also taking home the green jersey.