Groupama - FDJ lead by Laurence Pithie ride under the radar at this Giro d'Italia: "Unfortunately it has not turned out as we would have liked so far"

Groupama - FDJ is going all out for spring revelation Laurence Pithie at this Giro d'Italia, but the results so far didn't quite match the hopes they had for 21-year-old New Zealander. On top of all, not even luck was playing into Pithie's hands, as he punctured at critical moment in stage 9 sports director Frédéric Guesdon reveals.

"It was all going really well, until Laurence had a flat tire at the worst possible time. It went very quickly at that moment and we were quite far with the car, and we were only able to pass a few other cars," Guesdon told In de Leiderstrui.

"We tried to bring him back with some teammates, but it went too fast at the front and it was too technical to return. All in all, it is very disappointing, because I really had the feeling that he had the legs to compete for a place in the top five," said the sports director.

All in all, expectations were not yet fulfilled for the French team. "We entered the Giro with many ambitions, especially with Laurence, but unfortunately it has not turned out as we would have liked so far. He didn't feel at his best at the start and the level of the sprinters here is very high."