Marc Madiot reacts to Thibau Pinot's retirement announcement: "It’s the end of an era"

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.