Coquard: I belong with the greats

He may not have won a Tour de France stage yet, but French sprinter Bryan Coquard seems to believe his spot in history should be reserved.

Bryan Coquard may have been pipped at the line by Marcel Kittel, but is he one of the greats already? Source: Getty Images

Coquard produced a searing turn of speed at the end of the 237km fourth stage of this year's Tour from Saumur to Limoges, very nearly stealing victory from Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quickstep) from a long way back.

He faced an agonising wait to find out if he would be the first Frenchman to win a sprint stage of the Tour de France in more than a decade.H e also ran third on Monday's stage from Granville to Angers.

Coquard is clearly close to scoring a Tour victory, but it seems he already believes he's done enough to get a spot in the French cycling hall of fame.

" I think I belong with the greats now," he said after his narrow loss to Kittel. "I'm young but I'm a winner."

He added that he was disappointed to be pipped for the victory, especially after his surge from the back of the sprinting group.

"I could see I was making it back but it was not enough. I'm very disappointed but I must not give up. There are still lots of chances left," he added.

"There is no mistake in the sprints, the stronger wins. I was never as close to victory but I haven't won yet. I want to win this year on the Tour."