Not sure he declines the invitation today. But in 2016, he could afford it. Or rather, granted himself this right. A cyclist adored by the French, like Julian Alaphilippe, Thibaut Pinot is known for his talent, but also his hotheaded side. A character trait visible on his bike, but also when he gets out of the saddle and he pushes a rant. A few years ago, it was Emmanuel Macron who paid the price for the tough character of the athlete, when he was “only” Minister of the Economy.
As relayed by our colleagues from TV 7 DaysThibaut Pinot recently gave an interview to Bike Mag. An interview in which he returned to this funny and hilarious anecdote. In 2016, the current Head of State invites several members of the new generation of French cycling. Among the invited cyclists, Romain Bardet, Warren Barguil, Nacer Bouhanni, Arnaud Démare, Alexis Vuillermoz and therefore Thibaut Pinot.
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Thibaut Pinot snubbed Emmanuel Macron
The latter finally put “a wind” to the Minister of the Economy at the time. “I freaked out because Marc (Madiot, Groupama-FDJ training manager, editor’s note) wanted to send me to Macron”he revealed to our colleagues before continuing: “Do you remember? The runners at the Élysée (at Bercy: editor’s note)? I had just finished second in the Tour de Romandie behind Quintana, I had five days off and Marc wanted me to take the first train to Paris “.
If Thibaut Pinot could not honor his appointment, it is because he had much better things to do according to him: “Me, I had planned a fishing trip with my friends, and on the phone, we really fried!”. He acknowledges, however, that “That day”, [il sait qu’il est] gone too far in [ses] words”. “But no one has the right to deprive me of a barbecue and a fishing trip with my friends, it’s sacred!”, he says with great irony. Today, the cyclist could not take his ease as much and decline the invitation of the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron.
RF