Victory in Malbun "confirms all the work I have done since the start of the season" for Thibaut Pinot

Groupama - FDJ remain one of the headlining teams at the Tour de Suisse, as Thibaut Pinot aimed high and took the win on the seventh stage of the race after a successful breakaway.

“This is great for me. I wanted that win and went to get it myself. By finishing with the best Friday, I knew I was in good form," Pinot said in a post-race interview. The Frenchman had lost time earlier in the week and had the freedom to attack early on today, alongside almost 20% of the remaining peloton on the final road stage of the race.

Over the Lukmanierpass he had already shown intent of pushing the pace uphill as he went off the front with Clément Berthet, however Pinot saved some bullets for the final ascent to Malbun. The finale was brutal, initially Ion Izagirre took the lead of the race and seemed to be on his way to the win, however despite the searing heat Pinot overcame the difficulties to get back to the Spaniard and deal a decisive blow inside the final two kilometers.

Pinot took his second win of the season after obtaining the first in similar circumstances at the Tour of the Alps, and surges in confidence ahead of the Tour. “This confirms all the work I have done since the start of the season. This is good in view of the Tour de France. The goal is to win stages there too," he concluded.