Thibaut Pinot gives up.
The leader of the Groupama-FDJ team declined a selection for the French team for the World Championship scheduled for September 27 in Imola (Italy).
The Franc-Comtois anticipated the call of the coach who must give his list of the eight riders selected on Sunday.
"Thibaut warned me this morning, his back is causing him too much pain," explained the boss of the Blues, Thomas Voeckler Friday morning.
Pinot's decision is anything but a surprise.
The rider has been dragging his feet on the Tour routes since the first stage in Nice on August 29.
Victim of a fall, he had been struck in the back by a runner.
"Thibaut is honest, he respects the France team," says coach Thomas Voeckler
Since then, he has been unable to regain his level.
Two days before the finish in Paris, he is nearly two hours behind the yellow jersey, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) as the race passes a few kilometers from his home in Mélisey this Saturday.
A time trial in hill yet cut out for him.
"Thibaut is honest, he respects the France team," explains Voeckler who had retained Pinot among the 13 preselected.
