The overflow of emotion following Raymond Poulidor's death underscores how beloved this Frenchman was "forever number two," and how he remained humble for the rest of his life, traveling throughout France and faithfully participating in nearly every Tour de France event, even after his retirement in 1977. highlighted how much he was loved.

Despite his great status, Poulidor always remained a man of the people and a friendly figure.

The French newspaper L'Equipe devoted its Thursday front page and page 16 to Poulidor, and wrote about Pouparité - how his name became synonymous with second place finishes, Jacques Anquetil, and his famous duel with Eddy Merckx, and especially his love of meeting people - life and his way of holding on to his love of cycling - were remembered.

L'Equipe magazine described Poulidor's memory as a bottomless musette and reprinted a particularly moving interview with him as he turned 75 in 2011 and other moments in his life.

"I am an old man afraid that no one will recognize me anymore," Poulidor admitted.

"That's my big obsession. I have this fear that I won't be recognized by anyone in town. The day I get old and feel unappreciated is the day I die. That's who I am."

Poulidor admitted that at the height of his fame he received hundreds of fan letters a day. He also once drove 748,000 km in one Mercedes across France to show up for small events and autobiography signings at supermarkets, bookstores, and anywhere else where people were willing to pay for fuel. [Since 2004, I have three books written about me so I can do a signing every day. 'I still get four or five letters every day. I don't know why.

"I even received a letter from a woman whose last wish was to have a picture of Poulidor in her coffin. It is a very touching story."

Poulidor's rivalry with Anquetil is legendary. Although they were public enemies, he reveals that there was respect and even friendship between them.

"When I think about this, I can't help but bring tears to my eyes. Jack called me a few days before he died (November 18, 1987).

"Once, in an interview with the Paris Match newspaper, he said: 'I am not going to die, I am not going to die, I am not going to die. Because life is beautiful and must be lived."

Poulidor played with Eddy Merckx later in his career. Like Anquetil, he was often defeated by the Belgian, especially in the Tour de France, but he was glad not to be a cannibal.

"When asked if he ever woke up determined to "eat" or "destroy" his rivals, he replied, emphasizing each syllable, "Never, never, never."

"I was never a winner or a killer. I'll tell you why: I was a farmer's son, tilling the land. It was a poor land, unforgiving land in Kruse, but I was never unhappy. I had no money, but I ate meat every day. And overnight I became a professional and had everything I wanted: I had a mechanic to take care of my bike, I ate well, slept well, and had a small monthly salary."

The French media recalled, perhaps somewhat cruelly, that Poulidor was famous for his keen sense of money and for being very careful with it.

He was a competent negotiator when it came to contracts, but avoided buying races or support from other riders. There was a silver lining, however. His reputation as the eternal second best had earned him a higher salary and better compensation on the lucrative post-Tour de France circuit in August.

"I know how to count my money, so I'm very careful with it," Poulidor suggested, admitting that he was content to play to his emotions.

"At the end of the year, if you spent more money than you won, it wasn't worth it. What is the point of paying to win a race?" he asked.

"I know the value of money. I was a man who never put a dime in his pocket until he was 20 years old."

The final moving anecdote also revealed why he always smiles at life and considers himself lucky, despite never winning a single Tour de France and never wearing the yellow jersey for a single day.

"When I was five years old, I fell out of a cherry tree and my parents thought I was going to die. But I asked for toast with butter and sugar and miraculously recovered. So when I hear people say, 'Raymond Poulidor was unlucky,' I just smile."