"I just want to be there, that’s all" - Marc Madiot and Groupama-FDJ to celebrate Thibaut Pinot's career at Il Lombardia

Thibaut Pinot has always been a big fan of racing in Italy and in 2018 he won what was perhaps the biggest win of his career - Il Lombardia. This weekend, his career on the road comes to a close in the Race of the Fallen Leaves, where Groupama - FDJ will celebrate a successful career.

“There will be other emotions in Lombardy, but it will be different. I think that... I don’t really want to know what it will be like. I just want to be there, that’s all. I want to be there for the ‘last bib’ because I know what it means," Madiot shared with Cyclingnews. "To all those who have had the pleasure of following Thibaut throughout his career, tell yourselves that we’ve had the pleasure of experiencing great and beautiful emotions.”

The Frenchman had his last victory at the 2022 Tour de Suisse, but he thrived at this year's Giro d'Italia where he finished fifth but also won the KOM classification. He came close to success at the Tour de France, but the love of the French fans was on full display, mainly on home roads during the final mountain stage. He's unlikely to battle for a strong result this Saturday but will be a cherished figure who should have a tribute in northern Italy.

“To be present at Lombardy is to bring a beautiful image to an end. We’re here to celebrate, we’re here together," Madiot concludes. "It must remain a good and beautiful moment, we must live it like this. We can think: it wasn’t always easy. But we lived it."