Family, friends, former French cycling greats, and hundreds of locals paid their last tributes to Raymond Poulidor at his funeral in Saint-Leonard de Nobla on Tuesday

Poulidor died last Wednesday at age 83. Poulidor was famous for never winning the Tour de France, but that was only because the French people loved him in the 60s and 70s.

He was affectionately known as "Poupou" and was still widely recognized and fondly welcomed at the Tour de France, where he worked for Crédit Lyonnais, the yellow jersey sponsor.

Mathieu and David van der Pol quietly attended their grandfather's funeral, following their mother Corinne, father Adri, and grandmother.

Poulidor's coffin was carried to the church by former Tour de France winners Bernhard Thevenet and Bernard Hinault and other friends. Other famous names in the history of French cycling include world champions André Darrigade and Luc Lebrun, 1966 Tour winner Lucien Aimard, two-time Paris-Roubaix winner Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle, Marc Madiot, and former Tour de France director Jean-Marie Lebrun. Many famous athletes who have left their mark on the history of French cycling were in attendance.

The entrance to the church is decorated with a recent photo of Poulidor cycling on local streets, and inside the church are two large photos of Poulidor racing with historical rivals Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx.

A colorful wreath was placed at the foot of the altar, and several Mercier jerseys were displayed outside the church.

"I will miss him. Raymond leaves a big void," Thevenet said before the funeral. Even those who had never seen Raymond race knew him at some point." It is a shame that Raymond will not be able to see his grandson, Mathieu van der Pol, in action."

Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, was also present and suggested that Poulidor embodied "France as usual."

Corinne van der Pol spoke briefly about her father at the funeral and read a message from Mathieu.

"There are a number of races I like in cyclocross, but there are also 'crosses I don't want to ride. But the messages and encouragement every Sunday make me want to do my best everywhere again. So Grandpa, you are my champion," Corinne said.

Legendary race announcer Daniel Mangueas read a touching obituary and recalled: he always told me, " As long as I am in cycling, I am happy. I will never be able to repay cycling for all it has given me."