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Tour de France: "the Tour is the only race that we do not give up", proclaims Thibaut Pinot

2020-09-14T11:43:55.202Z


The leader of the Groupama-FDJ team, in difficulty every day during the event, recognizes that he just doesn't want to give up the Tour so


From his hotel, Thibaut Pinot agreed to answer a few questions despite his two nightmarish racing weeks.

The leader of Groupama-FDJ, far from his dreams of glory in Nice - he is in 31st place in the general classification at 1h22'47 '' from Roglic -, today has only one goal: not abandon the Grande Boucle.

How's your morale?

THIBAUT PINOT.

I have known worse but also much better.

It's been two weeks since my back pain (Editor's note. After its fall during the 2nd stage in Nice) has held me.

And in the second week, there was very little progress.

Is it a Tour with ups and downs now?

There are mostly stockings.

Sometimes I only have 30 minutes of running time at the peak of my effort to keep up with the best.

Afterwards, I am quickly limited.

And I struggle a lot.

Is the only goal now not to give up?

The Tour is an adventure and I don't want to give up.

Unless there is a miracle, I will not weigh on the race.

The Tour is the only race that we do not give up.

As long as I can, I will continue.

It is mainly out of pride.

I want to fight when there are days when I am one of the worst in the bunch.

Fighting just to be in the gruppetto is pretty hard.

"It's as if I will run two stages a day"

Did you imagine such a nightmarish Tour?

No, obviously.

It was horrible to experience.

I have rarely had such bad feelings.

It hurts and I force twice as much as I should.

I am in a state of fatigue superior to others.

It is as if I will be running two stages a day.

Will you still hope to play a stage victory?

To be in the right breakaway, you need good legs.

And I'm limited right now.

Will you line up for the World Championships in Imola on September 28?

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I told Thomas (Editor's note. Voeckler, the coach of the France team) that I will give my answer by Thursday.

Today, there is no reason for me to be there and take someone's place just because my name is Pinot.

After your failure in the Pyrenees, you spoke of a “turning point” in your career.

What did you hear?

I spoke hot.

But now is not the time to talk about it.

But there will be a reflection this winter to see how I will approach the next rounds.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2020-09-14

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