This Saturday morning, through a press release published on its official Twitter account, the Groupama-FDJ formation formalized the package of its leader, Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, for the Giro d’Italia (May 8-30).
The risk was high, but it’s now official. The Frenchman Thibaut Pinot finally gives up taking the start of the 104th edition of the Tour of Italy, which will take place from Saturday 8 to Sunday 30 May. This official announcement was made this Saturday morning by Groupama-FDJ, the team of the principal concerned, via his account. Twitter official.
At the end of the Tour of the Alps which ended this Friday, the climber was not very reassured by his current state of form., he who is struggling to recover from his physical glitches on his back due to his fall during the first stage of the Tour de France 2020.
Thibaut Pinot will not participate in the Giro.
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?? https://t.co/999SZp9zZt pic.twitter.com/sC9gIafY9O– Groupama-FDJ Cycling Team (@GroupamaFDJ) April 24, 2021
Pinot: “I can’t hide”
In this famous press release, the rider himself expressed: “I cannot hide: I am not in a condition to shine on the Giro. I will suffer needlessly and I will not be able to help the team. It’s not even a question of form, but back pain prevents me from performing. It is difficult to explain. At the start of the stage, it worked, I also managed, on the pedal, to slip into the breakaway on the last day of this Tour of the Alps. Unfortunately, the more the kilometers go by, the more the pain increases and at one point, it hurts too much to force. Tuesday I had a very bad day. It was difficult mentally, I didn’t expect to be this far. Giving up crossed my mind but I’m a competitor, I wanted to go to the end of the test, I needed it, so as not to have any regrets. Every day I gave everything I had in my stomach. Not competing in the Tour of Italy is heartbreaking, we did everything to be there! We really did our best so that I could start in the form that is normally mine. I am disappointed but I think about the rest. I want to heal myself, leave these back problems behind me to regain my level and fight with the best. “
