It didn't come as a big shock, but it came as a sad moment for cycling fans all round, as yesterday Thibau Pinot announced his retirement from pro cycling at the end of 2023. Marc Madiot, manager of Groupama - FDJ throughout Pinot's entire career, has reacted to the announcement.
"There never were any serious conversations, but we did feel that it was gradually taking space in his mind. We understood that it had been maturing for some time," Madiot said in a press release from the team. "There was also a significant factor: his contract was expiring. Somehow the stars were aligned. I knew it was time, that’s all. I know the guy, I could feel that it was going to happen."
The news were expected from Madiot, who had confirmed with his rider already some time ago that this would be the decision. A pro since 2010, Pinot has reached the climax of his career in the mid/late 2010's and has struggled to race against the top competition in recent years as new generations emerge at a superior level.
"I think he has simply come at the end of the line, on a personal level, regarding his evolution as an athlete, regarding the future of racing and the evolution of the team. He is at peace with himself. I think that, physically, he can still race, but he has come at the end of the line," Madiot commented.
A winner of Il Lombardia, stages in all Grand Tours and many other races, Pinot won over the hearts of many fans due to his aggressive style of racing, very dramatic and difficult moments experienced in Grand Tours and his trade mark as a goat farmer back home in the Vosges, France. At the 2019 Tour de France his career took a turn, as he abandoned in sight of Paris when in the fight for the yellow jersey.
"In 2019, when he told me 'I’m going to drop everything', we were in the heat of the moment. I didn’t believe him for a second. I knew he would want to bounce back, I didn’t need to read tea leaves," Madiot continued. "He was also in trouble in 2020 and 2021, he wanted to drop everything, but he wouldn’t let go. I didn’t know how and when he would come back, but he still had the fire inside him. It wasn’t time yet."
Pinot's career was marked by the Grand Tours. On the podium of the 2014 Tour as a 24-year old the expectations from the French on their new talent were high. For many years he pursued a victory in a three-week race. He abandoned the 2018 Giro d'Italia and 2019 Tour de France in the final days of racing, suffering from exhaustion and an injury respectively. These have seen him end his Grand Tour aspirations.
"Now he’s making a successful comeback and I’m sure he’ll have a successful departure. The fact that he is now a fully-fledged rider again and that he is back to a high level surely helps him to make his decision today," he said. This past season the Frenchman took stage wins at the Tour of the Alps and Tour de Suisse which saw him take meaningful success.
In 2022 he bounced back from two difficult seasons and won a stage at the Tour of the Alps and Tour de Suisse. Different ambitions, but they have seen the Frenchman get his spark back. Now at ease with his career, Pinot will ride his final season this year with a different mindset - although very focused in obtaining new victories.
"The general context also has a big influence. Thibaut has seen that cycling has changed between the beginning of his career and today," Madiot claimed. "We are no longer on the same pattern, and that is not his thing, he experienced something else. I totally understand that."
"It’s the end of an era. We complete the circle, and a great chapter of the team’s life. But it’s not death. It’s just time passing and life going on. You can look back on it all with some nostalgia and stop for a moment, but you can’t stand still. The team must continue to move forward, to develop, to innovate, and to strengthen in all areas to remain very competitive," he reflects.
Read also
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- So, you never really compared Paul Seixas with his main rival Isaac Del Toro why jump to Pogačar? They've (Paul & Isaac) raced together here and there, and they've both shared in wins and losses, I think they should be compared to each other, even with Vingegaard and Remco first before even touching Pogačar. From your writing it's like he's better than Vingegaard, Remco and Del Toro already that his main target is now Pogačar 🤔Sadick11-11-2026
- gee i hope its a minor injury. a great rider and ambassador for the sport. get well soon Lucinda.
Davide11-11-2026 - some of lidl-treks retention and recruiting has been puzzling in the mens and womens teams.Davide11-11-2026
- Yeah his ride at World's was unreal. Over 6 W/kg for over an hour and a half...he single handedly destroyed the break.DAS11-11-2026
- Exactly, you hit the nail on te head.... Ayuso sucks. 3 to 4 years ago some cycling experts were comparing Ayuso as the "new Pogi"... but he's not even close to him... either physically or mentally. Capish you naive schoolboy?PogiSloFans11-11-2026
- I think they expected more from riders like Carlos Rodriguez, Vauquelin and Magnus Sheffield. Imo they should have focused on signing Primoz Roglic, at least they´d probably have had a guaranteed podium GT finisher (he still might sign for them). Now they have 2nd or third tier riders in the classics (Ben Turner, Arensman, Beloki and hopefully Onley can step up again even more). Sheffield, August, Bernal, Tarling and Geoghan Hart did not live up to the star expectations eventually..Jonatan11-11-2026
- Fuuuuuuck, Ciccone and Pidcock on the same team, attacking like crazy and taking it to the other competitors? Yes, please.Occam11-11-2026
- Oh Cameron, this win has been a long time coming! We could not be more proud. All I’ll say is: roll on Glasgow 🔥anonymouscyclist11-11-2026
- Ayuso is another guy riding for GC but won't be able to consistently do it. Almost all of these guys, Skjelmose included, would be better off targeting shorter stage races or one-day races rather than shooting for a GT top-five.Occam11-11-2026
- Awesome. Because you didn't like him, he sucks. Good Lord, you're tendentious. And you write like a 15 yo locked in his room after school.Occam11-11-2026
Loading
À l'issue de la saison 2023, Thibaut Pinot mettra un terme à sa carrière après 14 années professionnelles.
Write a comment