"Everyone tells me that Thibaut has to ride the Tour" - Marc Madiot not in an easy position for Tour de France team selection
Cycling
Thibaut Pinot at the Tour de France 2023 - this feels almost like a certainty, especially considering the form Frenchman showed at Giro d'Italia. The Groupama - FDJ didn't hide his desire to be at the Grande Boucle in July either. His boss, Marc Madiot is now faced with the need to make the best possible decision for his team, though it might not make everyone happy.
“It makes me happy," said the former professional on the Grand Plateau podcast. "For many years I had to work hard to convince him to ride the Tour de France. We are now reaching the end of his career, he is freer and wants to be in the Tour. This is certainly good news, but there are still some things to evaluate, starting with his physical condition and his recovery, which we will be able to understand in the coming days. Based on this, taking into consideration how we want to build the team, we will make a decision."
“In the euphoria of the moment everyone tells me that Thibaut has to do the Tour. I have to try to be more pragmatic and look for answers to the questions I have to ask myself as team manager. It is not the social audience that decides. I have to try not to get influenced. Then there are also the agreements with the sponsors, this is normal”.
“For me the most beautiful role for Thibaut, if he is the condition to do the Tour, is to be the David Gaudu's luxury domestique or to take him to the podium. He said he would be in the Tour to help the team."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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