It has been far from a calm week for Groupama - FDJ, the revelation of their leaders for the Tour de France was highly dramatic as Arnaud Démare has been taken out, and will leave the team as was revealed in further comments. Thibaut Pinot however seems to have secured his spot, and he is content.
"I'm obviously very happy and very happy to do my last Tour de France. I think that with the form I had when I left the Giro and the form I still have fifteen days later, it would have been really frustrating for me not to be part of this team," the Frenchman told L'Équipe.
After thriving in the Giro d'Italia, where he finished fifth in the overall classification and conquered the KOM jersey, the Frenchman is highly motivated to take a stage win in what will be his final Tour, as he is set to retire at the end of this season. He's shown to have the legs to make it happen, and talks about how he is also carrying good form following the tough Giro.
"There is really a way, with the team aligned, to make a super Tour. A successful Tour de France for me would be a Tour de France where I could have blossomed and expressed what I have in my legs. And there is no reason why I shouldn't have pace," he concluded.
Ça veut bien dire que je suis le premier ! 🥴
5 – C’est la 5e fois que Thibaut Pinot termine à la 2e place d’une course professionnelle UCI en 2023, aucun coureur n’est arrivé plus souvent en 2e position sans connaître la victoire cette année. Frustrant. #LesRP #Giro
