The main French chance for the general classification of the Tour, the Franc-Comtois Thibaut Pinot reached the finish line with his Groupama-FDJ teammates, his jersey torn at the level of the right shoulder, showing bruises, and dark eyes.
From an accounting standpoint, Pinot wasted no time during this first stage compared to his opponents. The times had been neutralized by the jury of commissaires to the 3 kilometers, at the request of the runners warned by the falls during the previous passages on the promenade des Anglais.
However, the massive fall in which the leader of the Groupama-FDJ team was caught occurred shortly after the passage under the banner of 3 kilometers.
"He was annoyed, pissed off"
But, for Pinot who had left the Tour last year two days from the finish because of a muscle injury, the race resumed in a difficult way, although he had so far negotiated all the pitfalls of 'a very slippery road.
Without saying a word, the Franc-Comtois joined his team's bus to leave the Nice finish area, on the eve of tackling the first passes of the Tour (Colmiane, Turini) on the route traced in the 'Nice hinterland.
Thibaut Pinot is involved in the massive crash that took place in the heart of the peloton under the 3km banner # TDF2020
▶ Follow the race live on our site: https://t.co/WYc3Wuww1x pic.twitter.com/gyN1w0NUNL
"It's part of the race," reacted, disappointed, the boss of the French team, Marc Madiot. “Thibaut avoided falls to the three limits. Then it must have got in the way and he got caught. "
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“He fits like a boy who has just had a fall,” added Marc Madiot. “He was annoyed, pissed off. But, with a good night's recovery, things should be fine. "