Young men want to be him, young women want to be with him. Today we are here with French cycling star and male sex symbol Henry Vergnaud.

Let us start with business, so we can end matters on a more enjoyable subject, will we? Many regard you as one of France's finest climbers. You have won Paris - Nice [twice now, ed.), came in 2nd in the Vuelta. You are still yet to start at the Tour de France, which is probably your season highlight. Towards what are you looking forward in particular, besides hopefully winning a stage? Is there something you always wanted to experience at the Tour de France, maybe something mundane?
A tough question to start with. We'll see what the Tour brings us. If you had asked me a year ago I would've prefered a stage win over a good GC, but things change. I'm curious what I can achieve myself, I guess we'll all have to see. Maybe the thing I want to experience most of all is just the Tour itself.
A philosopher? I guess sportsmen can still surprise us every once in a while. If you won't answer straight forward, we'll ask you, man to man. Say you win the best young rider jersey, do you feel that maybe this will cement a certain claim towards winning the Tour de France later on?
Well, if we look at the history, a white jersey is not a guarantee at all, but it's a sign you can fight for something three weeks straight. My career is at the very beginning and I've podiumed the Vuelta last season, so I think I can win the Tour de France one day, yes.
I believe that's the first time you publically admitted that. Could it have to do with the fuss around it all in France? How would you describe the pressure that comes with being one of France's biggest talents?
It's pretty huge, actually. Stronger guys have crumbled at the hands of the French media. Luckily I have an excellent coach in Lucien Van Impe, who's been giving me excellent advice. He's keeping me with both feet on the ground and tries to keep the press away as much as possible, so I can focus on doing my job.
Your last season was a dramatic up-and-down. First the wins in Australia and France, than came the crash, and then the Vuelta a Espana. You came back like a phoenix out of the ashes. Many people didn't quite believe it you could come back from such a crash. What did help you in particular to come back on such a level? Where there certain moments or special people that made you pull through?
The crash was horrible. But nothing compared to the months that followed. I had to build up everything again with more patience than I thought I had. My fiance helped me through it mostly, she stuck by my side and helped me crawl before I could run and especially cycle again. Van Impe was also fantastic and was there every step of the way. He provided with gradual training programs that brought me back to fitness right in time for the Vuelta.
How was it getting back up on the bike for the first time after the crash? It must still cost you a lot of will power to go full speed in the descents, no?
The first time felt quite good, actually. I had missed my bike tremendously! I feared I might close up in the descents, but so far I've had no problems. I was never a fearful kid and I guess that also goes as an adult. I have few fears and luckily the crash didn't turn into a trauma.
Back toe the Vuelta. How would you describe last year's Vuelta for someone who hasn't seen it? How would you rank the performance of your competitors, especially Nibali?
The Vuelta... Well, it was a tour of big surprises, I guess. The profile was real tough, with many mountain stages. We started out brilliantly by winning the opening team time trial. For me, it was a perfect race. From day 1 I was in the top 10 and I never disappeared from it. Somewhere in the first week, I got in that 2nd place and I was able to hold it until the very end. Being in 2nd place is real tough, though. You have to constantly watch attackers from behind, but at the same time try to challenge the rider above you. Nibali was unbelievably strong and couldn't be beaten, not then. The Spanish climbers were strong, albeit a bit disappointing. I was stronger than them and held them off. The Vuelta is always a beautiful race, though. No exceptions.
Your strengths are clear, and so are your weaknesses: Do you work on becoming better at Time Trials? How much time and effort do you put into it compared to lessons of climbing or sprinting? Could you describe a bit your training effort when it comes to decreasing your weak spots?
The first two seasons of my career I spent a lot of time on the time trial bike. This winter less and less, until I stopped altogether in November. You see, the winter gave me some time to think about it. I'm 23 but I've achieved many great things already. I might actually have a chance at achieving my life long dream. Well, at least my dream since I started cycling.
And what might that dream be, pray tell?
I've never said this aloud, actually. It isn't winning the Tour de France, becoming World Champion or breaking a record. Although I'd love all those. My big dream is to become to world's best climber of all time. Get rated alongside Van Impe and Bohamontes. That's my biggest dream.
Everyone loves a climber. But few climbers win Grand Tours.
A painfully good point. However, I believe this is turning around. More and more time is taken on the mountains by the true climbers. Time Trials are important and often decisive, but if I want to get a shot at being the best climber I can be, I need to focus on that 100%. I wouldn't want to wake up in 20 years wondering whether I could've been better if I had tried. Climbing is sacred for me, in some weird way it's more important to me than anything else in cycling.
As a french, the answer might be clear: But what is your favourite race, but also, what do you imagine is the race that's best suited to you?
My favorite race? That's a tough one. For the French audience I'll say Tour de France. However, I left my heart in Australia a year ago now. it was amazing riding in the Santos Tour Down Under. It's the start of the season, so there's excitement, but the atmosphere is really good and relaxing as well. The view is short of perfect.
What race would you love to win the most?
Perfect galaxy? The Tour. Realistic galaxy? French National Road Race. The record sits at 3 victories. I'd love to wear the jersey more than 3 years!
What's your sweetest victory so far?
Stop asking difficult questions! Every victory tastes sweet, but I guess my Vuelta stage uphill last season felt pretty nice, considering the field!
If you had to choose, which one would you pick to win? Liège - Bastogne - Liège, Tour de France or Alpe D'huez, Ventoux and Tourmalet triple?
The climber in me says that triple. But winning the Tour de France is still higher up in my esteem!


Henry, you have caused quite some fuss in the previous years: How does the french public react when they see on the streets or in the supermarket?
Oh that's quite all right. I actually live in a small-ish town, so most people know me but bump into me too much to make a fuss over it. And even a famous cyclist doesn't get recognized as much as a rockstar or a dejay. Maybe combined, though. Dejay Van Garderen...
Though I had an interesting encounter once with a big fan. He knew more about me than I know myself, professionaly that is. He's now part of the staff at Team Celesio - Macquarie.
You're the male French sex symbol of the moment. How do you cope with that?
I actually didn't realize I was. I'm not really up to date with the social media and the magazines, to be honest. But now that you mention it, I get more fanmail than an average cyclist.
You are, so far, the only cyclist to have a gay fanclub.
[interrupts] What? Seriously? I had no idea. That's great, I didn't even know I had a fanclub.
You've started a blog at the start of your career. How does it help you?
It helps me to keep things organized. It also comes in handy to reflect on some races. Lately I've been adding a lot of personal stories, too. I had more trouble with that with some women I described.
Ah, we're getting there. Women. This is playboy, remember?
Okay, fire away!
Do you consider yourself type bad boy?
Oh no, not at all. I'm actually quite sensitive, really. I've only slept with four different women in all my life, and now I'm engaged. That's not typical bad boy behaviour, right?
And what about the flower girls on the podium? Where are they the hottest?
I sure hope Becca won't read this, but definitely in Italy.
Ever returned the kiss?
Well, it's their job to kiss me. It was my job to win the race, nothing more.
Let's get to the team for now. Your former best friend Warren Barguil left the team two years ago. Are you still friends now?
There's no need to say former. He's still my best friend. And he'll be my friend until he starts beating me uphill. [laughs]
Who's the funniest guy on the team?
Well, I haven't known them too long, but the Posa brothers are extremely comical. Everyone loves them.
What do you do on a day you don't have to train or race? On a workless day?
What's that now, a workless day? [laughs] Seriously, I have some workless days in the year, yes. I like to enjoy life with Becca, the woman of my dreams - pictures not included -, read books, watch series, Keep my blog alive.
One last question: Do you subscribe to playboy?
I'm a man, ain't I?

Jakstar22 - He'll be ready when the time comes

sutty68 - Oh, I don't know the readers would like that

Shonak - Thanks, Paris - Nice seems to be a good race for Henry. Glad you liked the interview

sutty68 - It seems so Time for the King to win a GT, I reckon

the_hoyle - Thanks, glad you're dropping in here!

welker3257 - Everyone is putting in some great results!

duxili - Maybe Henry should leave the Critérium Int. alone next year indeed. I think he's growing into a GT contender. Quintana gave me some stress but it was nice to have a battle instead of domination indeed!

Jakstar22 - Thanks, Quintana was quite the challenge!

Atlantius - That's good news Everything to make them nervous towards the Tour!