2023-05-04 07:26:00
We no longer betray any secrets by saying that Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) prefers the Giro to the Tour de France. If he had to choose, maybe he would have liked to win the second for everything he represents, but it is in the Boot that he feels the best, a “feeling“that he”does not explain“, a culture that he likes beyond the pasta and pizzas he admits to being crazy about. Serene, the Franc-Comtois unfolded his plan in front of the press this Wednesday. Of course, he hopes to feel the thrill of a victory but fighting with the best remains what suits him best.
Pinot see your”physically well“before tackling the first grand tour of the season, which will undoubtedly not be the last for him, who is hoping for a final lap on the French roads in July, where he has suffered more often than smiled. The Tour de Romandie, which he completed no later than Sunday, allowed him to gauge himself against the competition and at Thyon 2000, on the big mountain stage, he was only beaten by Adam Yates and by 7 small seconds. A result that seems to have given him ideas.
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Given its attitude over the last two big laps, we were expecting a cautious Pinot. Will he let himself slide in the first week to join the breakaways and aim for a victory afterwards? Not necessarily. “I will give my best every day and try to be as close as possible to the favorites“, he enlightens. Isn’t he afraid of living through three frustrating weeks? “It always is not being able to lift your armscalm down. But I take more pleasure in being with the leaders. Last year I was quite frustrated with my Tour and the Vuelta. I was not in the general, it does not mean that I won stages“.
Seven years ago, Pinot triumphed at Alpe d’Huez
One point for Pinot. But then, if he is aiming for a good general classification, where does he place himself in a hierarchy dominated by the duo Remco Evenepoel-Primoz Roglic, followed by some distance by Joao Almeida or Geraint Thomas? “We always aim for a Top 10 but if bad weather gets involved, we know the Giro, why not go and get places in the Top 5?he asks, almost to himself. For now, I don’t set myself a limit“.
“I have great memories of the Giro”
Pinot is well aware that the first half of the Giro and the 54 individual time trial terminals are not favorable to him. Rather, he is aiming for the third week and the three finishes at altitude. This is where the differences will be and he intends to be in the game without getting inflamed. When a journalist asked him if he felt at the level of 2019, the leader of Groupama-FDJ immediately calmed down: “I am far from it! I was at the peak of my career. Years have passed, this back injury that took a long time to resolve. I am still at a very good level that I had not had since 2020. But 2019 is not possible.”
That’s why he puts less pressure on himself than before. It is no longer quite its age and the Groupama-FDJ present in the Giro does not have the face of a team cut out to fight with the other armadas which are aiming for the general. Pinot will make his merry way and he will see where it takes him. Until then, he will have time to enjoy this race he loves so much.
“I couldn’t imagine missing the Giro for my last season. It was inconceivable to do my last year without my favorite race“He waited too long to participate, in his eighth professional year, and was only allowed to come twice (2017 and 2018).”I hope to catch up this yearhe said. I still have great memories here.“
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