aimar had trouble finding his form in 1969, a year already difficult because a one-month suspension for doping denied him a start in the vuelta a españa. he lost his national champion's jersey to desire letort and then rode a disastrous tour de france, suffering in the alps and finishing 30th. the manager, géminiani, was so disillusioned with his riders that he didn't bother following the race any further once it had reached his home in clermont-ferrand.