July 8, 2012, Thibaut Pinot, beautiful face, outspokenness and tattoo "Solo la vittoria e bella" on the right forearm, had burst in the eyes of cycling France by winning the 8th stage of the Tour de France in Porrentruy (Switzerland).
The beginning of his love affair thwarted with an ordeal that often left him by the side of the road, his luggage filled with disillusionment.
Certainly, he has known summits like in 2014 (3rd and white jersey), in 2015 (winner at Alpe-d'Huez) or in 2019 (winner at Tourmalet).
But he also had four withdrawals (2013, 2016, 2017, 2019).
The most cruel was necessarily the last when he was struck down by a muscle injury during the 19th stage when he could dream of the podium, see better ...
During the 2020 edition shifted in September, a fall from the 1st stage in Nice shattered his back and his hopes.
If he held on (29th overall), certainly because the penultimate stage went to his home in Mélisey, Pinot then paid him physically and mentally.
Worn out by his failures, the 30-year-old rider has therefore decided, with his entourage, to give up the Tour de France 2021 with its less mountainous profile.
He had already made the deadlock in 2018.
Gaudu and Démare, two beautiful cards
At Groupama-FDJ, the reflection of a change in strategy also found its genesis during the very good Tour of Spain directed by David Gaudu.
Eighth overall and winner of two stages, the 24-year-old Breton climber, who will play an important role in the years to come, has shown that he has passed a course and now shoulders to don the leader's costume.
After two years of absence, Arnaud Démare brilliant in the Tour of Italy (4 stages, jersey of the points classification) did not hide his desire to return to the Grande Boucle.
Given their specific team-mating needs, it seemed complicated for Marc Madiot to combine the Pinot climber and the Démare sprinter.
“This type of decision is not a huge surprise, analyzes Cyrille Guimard, RMC consultant and candidate for the presidency of the FFC.
It is obviously collective, this kind of thing cannot be decided like a dictator.
I am convinced that there has been an evolution and a long reflection within the team.
At one point, Arnaud, we are not always going to try it on secondary races.
He deserved to do the Tour again, especially after what he showed at the Giro.
And a guy of the caliber of Thibaut, you're not going to tell him, we're going to put 4 guys with Arnaud to help him win stages and you just manage with 2 guys… It's not conceivable.
"
With the hope Gaudu (13th in 2019) and Démare (2 stage victories on the Tour in his career), the team will be able to bet on two good cards, even without Pinot.
He will aim for a podium in the Tour of Italy
The Franc-Comtois, therefore, will find the roads of the Tour of Italy.
An ordeal and a country that he particularly likes.
There he won one of his greatest successes during the Tour of Lombardy in 2018. On the Giro, he shone in 2017 (4th and winner of a stage) and the following year when he was in 3rd place. general before suffering a serious lung infection on the penultimate day.
Far from the pressure of the Tour de France which sometimes stifles him and the scorching temperatures of July that he fears, he will aim for a podium in the Tour of Italy.
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“Even if it seems that there is water in the gas in the love story between Thibaut and the Tour (laughs), common sense prevailed, concludes Guimard.
For me, the Giro suits him better.
The route is often mountainous with short percentage passes.
There will always be less media and popular pressure in Italy compared to France for someone like him and that is important.
All that pleaded for him to really try his luck on the Giro.
"