Thibaut Pinot announced on Thursday that his career as a professional cyclist will come to an end at the end of the 2023 season, which will see him start the Giro without entirely ruling out the possibility of lining up for the Tour de France.
Thibaut Pinot did not want to prolong the suspense. Launched into the deep end of professional cycling in 2010 by the team then called La Française des Jeux, the native of Mélisey announced through an interview with the daily The team what 2023 will be his last year with the peloton. An early announcement that the Franc-Comtois wanted, saying that ” when I run, we’ll know it’s the last time, before I go and bury myself in my hole “. While his Groupama-FDJ team has already confirmed that Thibaut Pinot will be one of its spearheads on the roads of the Giro this season, the former French time trial champion has not ruled out a tenth and last participation in the Tour de France, the place of his greatest victories but also of his greatest difficulties. ” Now I’m ready for real life “, added the one who will definitely hang up his bike once the finish line of the Tour of Lombardy is crossed on October 7th.
Marc Madiot: “Thibaut will succeed in his exit”
Long format interview 👉 https://t.co/DmzPewI9sM
🇬🇧 https://t.co/Ohjkx2UF1T pic.twitter.com/VfGsnH1opF
— Groupama-FDJ Cycling Team (@GroupamaFDJ) January 12, 2023
Pinot wants to “finish in style”
In a statement from his team, Thibaut Pinot assures us that it is a decision ” carefully considered over the years ». « I’m excited for the new things I’ll be able to discover after my career, but I’m just as excited to race in this last year. “, he confided. The native of Mélisey affirms that he has ” rarely been so motivated before a season », with the desire to « to finish beautifully ». « I do everything and I will continue to do everything to achieve the best possible results “, he concluded. Marc Madiot, meanwhile, assured in an interview published on the official website of his training that he had never tried to change his rider’s mind. ” I know him well enough, and I also know that the end of a career is really a very personal thing. “, confided the boss of the Groupama-FDJ team. A sporting retirement which, in his eyes, is ” The end of an era ” with the French formation which ” come full circle and have a great game » to live. « For a long time, especially on the Tour, we were Pinot-dependent. But since 2021, we are no longerhe added. The team has already prepared for the post-Pinot period, as proof of this the last Tour. »
2023, enjoy, give everything to regret nothing.@groupamafdj @groupama @fdj pic.twitter.com/0RqZqjtPvi
— PINOT Thibaut (@ThibautPinot) January 12, 2023
Pinot, a contrasting history with the Tour de France
A start on the Lombard roads which will be like a nod to one of the happiest days of his career. Indeed, it was during the Tour of Lombardy 2018 that Thibaut Pinot won his only Monument, alone ahead of Vincenzo Nibali and Dylan Teuns. But, if he won a stage on the Giro and two on the Vuelta, his name will always be attached to the Tour de France. After raising his arms from his first participation in 2012, his main feat will remain third place in the general classification during the 2014 edition, accompanied by a white jersey for best young rider. To this was added a stage in 2015 then another in 2019 at the top of the Col du Tourmalet in front of a Julian Alaphilippe then wearing the yellow jersey. A Big Loop whose arrival he could not see, betrayed his left thigh. The following year, a violent fall in the final of the first stage in Nice left him with back pain which continued for many months and disrupted the rest of his career.. It was only during the Tour of the Alps 2022 that he was able to raise his arms again as the winner, before do it again on the Tour de Suisse. A feeling that the Franc-Comtois intends to relive once again before a retirement that will leave a void.
