Thibaut Pinot, much better than a goodbye

“Can’t even say he was motivated, it was more than that“, summarizes the sporting director of Groupama-FDJ, Sébastien Joly. Thibaut Pinot may have announced that 2023 would be his last season, he was not on the Tour of Italy for the beauty of the landscapes. Dashing fifth in the general classification At the end of the 21st and last stage of the Giro, Sunday May 28, the French rider was one of the leaders of the event. he hadn’t been for months.

The spearhead of Groupama-FDJ is perhaps no longer exactly the one that made France dream of a victory in the Tour de France. But after almost three years of hardship, a back injury that has never fully resolved and doubts, Thibaut Pinot has found the joy of hurting himself again.

Sixth before the decisive time trial on Saturday, he managed to enter the Top 5 overall. “He wanted to do the chrono of his life, and you could almost say he did” enthused Sébastien Joly. “It’s not a podium but I really wanted to go for it, because it still means a lot to me, confided the French on arrival. I always believed in it, even when I had my days without.“

Now “peaceful”

Thibaut Pinot has once again become a great champion and he has demonstrated it. To himself, and to those who doubted his ability to still be a runner that counts. Even when “Negative thoughts“returned to old road companions on the 18th stage, the Franc-Comtois did not give in mentally. And this time, the rest of the body held on.”I finished the third week really well. Physically, it’s really the Grand Tour that I finish the best. I still had some in my legs!“For a man who culminated in 3rd place in the Tour de France 2014, 4th in the Giro in 2017 and 7th in the Vuelta, that is an understatement.

Five times in the Top 10 of a stage in three weeks, the triple stage winner on the Grande Boucle was not content with runners-up. Often at the front, he went for the best climber’s jersey on merit. “It wasn’t easy either to compete for the best climber’s jersey and the overall. It is therefore a source of pride to have succeeded in these two missions. I’ll still enjoy for 24 hours, but tonight I feel soothedhe reacted on Saturday. I knew I could come back to that level, in the top 5 of a Grand Tour. For that, I am proud of myself. I’m proud that I never gave up.“

In parallel with the results, Thibaut Pinot was able to be the rider he loves, instinctive, offensive, a leader who takes the breakaways and strips himself, far from the control that has long characterized this Giro. Because he didn’t actually make his ranking a bombastic ambition, the rest of the pack gave him carte blanche. With, as almost always with the Groupama-FDJ rider, this somewhat disconcerting alternation of ups and downs. The cold snap at the end of the first week, that of warning away from the leaders on Monte Bondone during the 16th stage, this stage victory which escaped in the sprint twice.

But this best climber’s azzurro jersey was won on the pedal and not in consolation. And this pleasure, above all, to be in the fight, until this last lap on Saturday. On the unbearable slopes of Monte Lussari, Pinot played in the same league as Geraint Thomas and João Almeida. Fifth of the day, he was only beaten by the first four overall. Proof that he is in his place, a step below the podium – almost 4’30 “from the Portuguese Almeida – certainly, but among the best.

He who explained that he wanted to take leave of the peloton at the end of the season, which he would not have “never again its level of 2019” when he was in the fight to win the Tour de France, has just signed his best result over three weeks since the Giro 2017 and his fourth place. If this Giro was the last Grand Tour of Thibaut Pinot’s career, he will remain as that of a runner who counts, on the photo of the winners with his best climber’s jersey. “It’s always been a dream to get on the final podium of the Giro, he explained Thursday evening of the 18th stage. It won’t be the podium in the general classification, but it’s still a good image.“