Thibaut Pinot, who has not triumphed on a Grand Tour stage since his 2019 victory at the Tourmalet, was very close to resuming success this Friday during the 13th stage of the Giro. The Franc-Comtois from the Groupama-FDJ team struggled with Jefferson Cepeda (EF Education-EasyPost) throughout the last climb to finally lose to another Colombian: Einer Rubio (Movistar)
Since July 20, 2019 and his superb number between Tarbes and the Col du Tourmalet in the Tour de France, Thibaut Pinot has been waiting to sign a new coup in a Grand Tour. The Franc-Comtois came very close to this stage victory that he has been waiting for almost four years, this Friday during the 13th stage of the Giro. The leader of the Groupama-FDJ team on this Tour of Italy in which he is participating for the last time has tried everything to have the pleasure of raising his arms at the top of Crans-Montana.
Unfortunately for Marc Madiot’s protege, who struggled throughout this last climb of this weather-shortened stage, he first came across a very catchy Jefferson Cepeda (EF Education-EasyPost), before being beaten afterwards , this time for the stage victory, by another Colombian who was part of the leading group, namely Einer Rubio (Movistar). The latter, who had the greatest success of his career there, crucified Pinot on a banderilla planted three hundred meters from the line while Cepeda had cracked this time. In this ultimate difficulty, that had never been the case.
Pinot very pissed off and inconsolable after arrival
Pinot multiplied the attacks, and each time, the Colombian responded to them, without however agreeing to take over but contenting himself with following the Frenchman and waiting for the attempts of the one who was undoubtedly the strongest and did not never hid his desire to win this stage to get back in touch. Rubio never agreed to ride either alongside a very angry Pinot and who didn’t hesitate to let his breakaway comrades know, and in particular Cepeda, without disturbing the latter. , decided to accompany the third of the Tour de France 2014 but no more.
And as soon as the possibility presented itself of countering the one who was probably wrong to show how much he wanted to return to success, and to ruin all his hopes at the same time, Rubio did not let it pass. Long prostrate on his bike after the finish, Pinot will probably have a hard time digesting the end of this stage which held out his arms but escaped him. Because it is not his takeover in the classification of the best climber that will console the 32-year-old rider who has decided that this season will be his last.
