"Unfortunately it has not turned out as we would have liked so far" - Can Laurence Pithie make his mark on stage 11 of Giro d'Italia?

After a breakthrough spring, Laurence Pithie's Grand Tour debut at the 2024 Giro d'Italia was a highly anticipated one. Sadly, the first week and a bit haven't exactly gone to plan for the 21-year-old Kiwi.

"We went to the Giro with many ambitions, especially with Laurence, but unfortunately it has not turned out as we would have liked so far," says Groupama - FDJ Sports Director, Frédéric Guesdon in conversation with his team's official website. “He wasn’t feeling at his best at the start and there is a high level of sprinters."

With a few big name sprinters going home over the last few days though, including Team Visma | Lease a Bike's stage winner, Olav Kooij, there could yet be a notable showing from Pithie before the race reaches Rome.

"The boys’ physical condition is good," says Guesdon, who also holds hopes elsewhere, not only through Pithie. "They committed a lot and did a good job in all the stages where we could play something. We would have deserved better results."