There was a time when French riders dominated the Tour de France. Not any more, however, which is why the victory by Thomas Voeckler in Perpignan yesterday on stage five was so special for home fans.

A few years ago, Voeckler was touted as the great new French hope, but despite a sustained spell in the yellow jersey in 2004, flattered to deceive. It is now 24 years since the last French victory in the Tour, that of Bernard Hinault in 1985.

Hinault had two great rivals in his heyday: Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon. In 1986, LeMond ushered in a new era and fuelled the growth of American cycling by beating Hinault to become the first English-speaker to win the Tour.

Twenty years ago, Fignon should have won his third Tour, but was thwarted by LeMond on the very last stage, losing the race by only eight seconds in the final day's time-trial. In the intervening years, no French rider has looked likely to challenge for victory and Fignon, now seriously ill with cancer, remains the last great French contender.

With Lance Armstrong back on the beat, the years of foreign domination seem set to continue, which is why for the foreseeable future, victories such as Voecker's are all there is to keep the home fires burning.