Pinot has a high peak level but I just can’t see him overcoming the frequent physical issues and mental fragility ( not necessarily that he is fragile compared to the average person but that he doesn’t have the next level iron will and resilience in adversity that most serial winners across different sports have).
The final day Dauphine collapse this year was an alarming display that regardless of bad luck with crashes convinced me that he just doesn’t have ‘it’ to win a big stage race. He seems to need all the stars to align and everything to go right and it’s quite remarkable for someone so talked up that he has never won a world tour stage race GC.
If he is happy with life and ok with how things are going then fine stay at FDJ for the work/life balance but I think his only chance of becoming a durable contender is a change of team preferably one that isn’t French much in the way that it seems to suit Alaphilippe to be in a Belgian team rather than French.
FDJ should look to the future and give Gaudu the leadership next time round and let his whole season be based on building to Tour GC bid. He has been held back compared to other youngsters like Mas and Pogacar who were given GC leadership at younger ages than Gaudu is now.
Just maybe Pinot could thrive riding in support of Gaudu as his domestique deluxe.
I see where you're coming from, but disagree and put his GDL win against the CdD example that you cite: in Italy, that day in'18, he was a serial killer, punching the skies at the helicopter, heck, the Zakarin-league descender taking time on Il Squalo down the Civiglio. He has it in him.
Gaudu needs to get his shot, but until he does, he needs to drastically improve his ITT. He's not as good today as the best Bardet or this year's MAL. Same type of rider, not quite as good. Imagine how he would tumble down the GC...
I have written ad nauseam (about Movistar a few years back) how being the second or third best team means nothing when you have a dominant team. Pog just proved it. So, God willing, Thibaut gets a podium at La Vuelta, and knowing him he will want to podium all three GT and give Il Giro a shot. Madiot hinted having Demare at the TdF next year: add Molard and Reichenbach to help Gaudu and see how he fares.
In the end, designs will dictate what FDJ does. Giving Pinot one year Tour-less maybe a good idea, let him win elsewhere and come back, with Gaudu trying Il Giro-La Vuelta, or something like that.
In the meantime, I'd like to see Tibopino on LBL, AGR, even FW, that to me is a big opportunity that he's passing up.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram