Teams & Riders Thibaut Pinot discussion thread

[Samu Cuenca]

You think he might take an earlier time, and has given a fake time just to throw people off?

He's probably taking a horse-drawn carriage or a hot air balloon tonight.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Gifting Pinot an actual goat called Vittoria is a top tier PR move for the race, no surprise.

 

[RedheadDane]

Gifting Pinot an actual goat called Vittoria is a top tier PR move for the race, no surprise.

I suppose it might be a bit hard for him to go unnoticed with a literal goat on a train.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I suppose it might be a bit hard for him to go unnoticed with a literal goat on a train.

They already brought the goat to his farm and his family while he was racing.

A short video of him celebrating with his fans:

 

[Lequack]

Great send off for a rider that everyone likes. Pinot was one of a kind. He had a lot of ups, and a lot of downs, making it hard as a fan. Hopefully he enjoys his retirement. If not there's always gravel.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Goodbye Pinot, enjoy your retirement! I think he could win more important races if he wasn't so emotional.

 

[RedheadDane]

I think he could win more important races if he wasn't so emotional.

But then he wouldn't be the person people admire so much.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't know why they connect him not winning GTs to him being emotinoal or something. If anything, it would likely be the fact that he never went to a top team where they get more out of their riders.

 

[Tonton]

I don't know why they connect him not winning GTs to him being emotinoal or something. If anything, it would likely be the fact that he never went to a top team where they get more out of their riders.

There are so many reasons, but to name a few: for people from Franche-Comté like me, he's our champion. For people who go through life with its ups and downs, he's like us. And every time that Pinot rebounded, he inspired us. For fans who were sick and tired of what cycling had become, Thibaut showed that a rider can win the right way. no Pinot thread on the other side of CN's forums...Tibopino is so...human. I'll miss him.

 

[ice&fire]

Young Tibopino wanted to be adored and he's more than fulfilled his wishes.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D2qcbu26gs

 

[Tonton]

So that's it...

The show will go on, as it should, and Thibaut Pinot will move on to the next chapter in his life. In the great book of cycling, it's a bit sad that he will be mostly remembered for his epic failures...how he "lost" the '19 Tour...

The truth is that Tibopino won a lot, and here's a small comparison with some other French riders:

Pro Wins (PCS)

Pinot 33
Bardet 10
Virenque 21
Voeckler 45 - he and Démare own Poitou-Charentes

Giro-Tour-Vuelta Best GC Finish

Pinot 4-3-6
Bardet 7-2-17
Virenque 14-2-5
Voeckler 23-4-X

GT Stage Wins (Giro-Tour-Vuelta)

Virenque 8 (1-7-0)
Pinot 6 (1-3-2)
Bardet 4 (0-3-1)
Voeckler 4 (0-4-0)

GT Stage 2nd Places (Giro-Tour-Vuelta)

Pinot 10 (4-6-0) - yikes! So close!
Virenque 6 (0-5-1)
Voeckler 4 (1-3-0)
Bardet 4 (2-2-0)

Closest Margin To The GT Winner

Pinot 1’17” - ‘17 Giro
Voeckler 3’20” - ‘11 TdF
Bardet 4’05” - ‘16 TdF
Virenque 4’37” - ‘96 TdF

KOM (Giro-Tour-Vuelta)

Virenque 7 (0-7-0)
Bardet 1 (0-1-0)
Voeckler 1 (0-1-0)
Pinot 1 (1-0-0)

Young Rider Jersey (Giro-Tour-Vuelta)

Pinot 1 (0-1-0)

Best GC Result in Major One-Week Races (PN-TA-TdR-CdD-TdS)

Pinot (5-3-2-2-4)
Bardet (5-8-7-2-5)
Voeckler (18-X-21-10-70)
Virenque (14-X-48-3-6)

Stage Wins in Major One-Week Races (PN-TA-TdR-CDD-TdS)

Pinot 5 (0-0-2-1-2)
Virenque 4 (0-0-0-4-0)
Voeckler 3 (2-0-0-1-0)
Bardet 1 (0-0-0-1-0)

National Championships (ITT-RR)

Voeckler 2 (0-2)
Pinot 1 (1-0)
Bardet-Virenque 0

Monuments (Podiums)

Pinot 1 (1)
Bardet 0 (1)
Virenque-Voeckler 0

So that's a pretty solid record, better than Virenque actually, but he wasn't Thinard Pinault either.

But there were times in '18 and '19 when Thibaut was on top of the world...when he destroyed the best.

 

[Squire]

Great send off for a rider that everyone likes. Pinot was one of a kind. He had a lot of ups, and a lot of downs, making it hard as a fan. Hopefully he enjoys his retirement. If not there's always gravel.

This is an awesome photo!

no Pinot thread on the other side of CN's forums...

This might actually be one of the greatest compliments a rider can get!

Pro cycling will be a slightly worse show now that Pinot has retired. Was impossible not to cheer for him.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Pinot was a fighter, and someone whose popularity in France was huge. I never understood why he was so much more popular than Bardet, but probably his paysan image explains part of it. In an era dominated by electronic devices and scientific training programs he was an old-fashioned combatant who went on stubbornness and instinct.

His results were hampered by injuries and crashes as the worst possible moments, but he still has a sizable list of wins and places of honor. His Giro di Lombardia victory was the highlight of his career, but like Fignon he will also be remembered for the races he didn't win. Even if he isn't objectively the GOAT, at least he owns a goat.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

at least he owns a goat.

Under/over for the time interval between his 7:20 train on Monday morning reaching his local station, and a new photo appearing online of a goat standing on him with a caption "Welcome Home Papa"? I give it 45 minutes.

 

[RedheadDane]

Ciao, Thibaut

In Bergamo on Saturday, a beautiful chapter of contemporary cycling came to an end, as well as an indelible sequence in the history of the Groupama-FDJ

www.equipecycliste-groupama-fdj.fr

And here's the French version too, for those who'd prefer that.

Ciao, Thibaut

Dans les rues de Bergame samedi s’est clos un chapitre important du cyclisme contemporain, ainsi qu’une séquence indélébile de l’histoire de l’Équipe

www.equipecycliste-groupama-fdj.fr

 

[Rackham]

Pinot was a fighter, and someone whose popularity in France was huge. I never understood why he was so much more popular than Bardet, but probably his paysan image explains part of it. In an era dominated by electronic devices and scientific training programs he was an old-fashioned combatant who went on stubbornness and instinct.

His results were hampered by injuries and crashes as the worst possible moments, but he still has a sizable list of wins and places of honor. His Giro di Lombardia victory was the highlight of his career, but like Fignon he will also be remembered for the races he didn't win. Even if he isn't objectively the GOAT, at least he owns a goat.

Based on experience here, I will say the whole Pinot 'emotion' angle & popular support was pushed pretty hard in his latter years by the media, i.e. to a point where it often felt a little contrived & forced.

From my point of view I'll say Alaphilippe is the most popular French rider & contrary to the cliché, French people don't hate winners. They love winners. Alaphilippe was a winner. His Worlds win in 2021 was something else, i.e. people went crazy (especially because he did on 'enemy turf' against the Belgians, no less). Pinot has never had something like that. Even in his biggest heartbreak (the 2019 TdF), Alaphilippe's adventure in yellow captured hearts & minds more IMO.

I'm only posting this because in recent months a form of popularity contest has been encouraged by the media whereby Pinot is presented as the most popular French rider of the past decade. For me, it's just not true.

 

[Bolder]

Based on experience here, I will say the whole Pinot 'emotion' angle & popular support was pushed pretty hard in his latter years by the media, i.e. to a point where it often felt a little contrived & forced.

From my point of view I'll say Alaphilippe is the most popular French rider & contrary to the cliché, French people don't hate winners. They love winners. Alaphilippe was a winner. His Worlds win in 2021 was something else, i.e. people went crazy (especially because he did on 'enemy turf' against the Belgians, no less). Pinot has never had something like that. Even in his biggest heartbreak (the 2019 TdF), Alaphilippe's adventure in yellow captured hearts & minds more IMO.

I'm only posting this because in recent months a form of popularity contest has been encouraged by the media whereby Pinot is presented as the most popular French rider of the past decade. For me, it's just not true.

As a resident of France, I can say that Alaphilippe is the most admired rider for his palmares, but that doesn't necessarily translate to popularity.

Pinot has gotten a lot of positive media attention for his goats, his homebody personality etc. It's very relatable. And as the main GC rider in the TDF for a french team, he got a LOT of camera time every July.

Alaphilippe, on the other hand, stole Tony Gallopin's wife.

 

[RedheadDane]

Alaphilippe, on the other hand, stole Tony Gallopin's wife.

I suspect she had a say in the matter. She's not an object that can just be stolen.

 

[Salvarani]

Alaphilippe, on the other hand, stole Tony Gallopin's wife.

A very french thing to do.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Merci Pinot, the champion of the people!

 

[Red Rick]

As a resident of France, I can say that Alaphilippe is the most admired rider for his palmares, but that doesn't necessarily translate to popularity.

Pinot has gotten a lot of positive media attention for his goats, his homebody personality etc. It's very relatable. And as the main GC rider in the TDF for a french team, he got a LOT of camera time every July.

Alaphilippe, on the other hand, stole Tony Gallopin's wife.

Alaphilippe is just French Courtois then.

 

[Bolder]

I suspect she had a say in the matter. She's not an object that can just be stolen.

I was being facetious to make a point.

But in general Alaf is respected for his results while Pinot is for his persona. Even if the media over-eggs the sauce a bit, and he plays along.

I’m probably more of a Alaphilippe fan. He never makes excuses and doesn’t blame others. I do wish he could sprint in a straight line, though.

 

[Tonton]

Pinot's popularity wasn't always what it is today. Before '19, he (and Bardet) had to bear the expectations of a starved nation. And the French fan base is not known for its patience. By not winning Le Tour, both got their detractors, fans of the two riders got involved, defending their chouchou at the expense of the other, sometimes like "my guy isn't as bad as him". We saw it after the '18 Giro: you had roughly 50% defending Thibaut's Giro vs. 50% calling him weak, a loser.

The difference is what happened in the '19 Tour and that documentary "Avec Thibaut" that came on TV on the eve of the finish in Paris. It may have had limited effect on foreign soil due to a language barrier, but in France, on prime time, Thibaut found himself in every living room in the country, including those of his critics. It changed everything. Overnight, Thibaut became mainstream, part of the pop culture, more than a cycling champion. The comparison with Alaf' is not fair to Alaf'.

When I read that Tibopino may be too popular now, I don't think so. He just wasn't popular enough before the '19 Tour.

 

[Bolder]

Pinot's popularity wasn't always what it is today. Before '19, he (and Bardet) had to bear the expectations of a starved nation. And the French fan base is not known for its patience. By not winning Le Tour, both got their detractors, fans of the two riders got involved, defending their chouchou at the expense of the other, sometimes like "my guy isn't as bad as him". We saw it after the '18 Giro: you had roughly 50% defending Thibaut's Giro vs. 50% calling him weak, a loser.

The difference is what happened in the '19 Tour and that documentary "Avec Thibaut" that came on TV on the eve of the finish in Paris. It may have had limited effect on foreign soil due to a language barrier, but in France, on prime time, Thibaut found himself in every living room in the country, including those of his critics. It changed everything. Overnight, Thibaut became mainstream, part of the pop culture, more than a cycling champion. The comparison with Alaf' is not fair to Alaf'.

When I read that Tibopino may be too popular now, I don't think so. He just wasn't popular enough before the '19 Tour.

Bardet is a good guy, too. Very thoughtful. Like Pinot he suffered from weight of expectations, I think. But he's always been a stoic. My complaint with Bardet is that I think his weight has been too low, a bit like Buchmann. He could be a real classics contender with 5 more kilos of muscle, he's done quite well in races like SB and Amstel already. But he's always been expected to go for GC.

 

[CyclistAbi]

It's the goats. Hard to look beyond that. Then there is the expectation of a nation. To win the Tour. Hard to imagine being a French cyclist in the pro road peloton, as at the very first glimpse of success, you must. Here all the little things can easily get overlooked. Luckily not with Pinot. So in the end he won, nation and beyond accepted him as he was. Taking joy in all the little things. Being a Slovenian i can relate to that. Before this golden are, and likely after it, we will again love our Pinot's. And all the goats.