I have seen no evidence that there is any hostility between the two beyond the obvious rivalry involved in being the two best French GC riders and the leaders of the two biggest French teams. Their rivalry appears more or less cordial.SHAD0W93 said:Good win today and I'm torn because I want Kreuziger, Valverde, or Pinot to win Lombardi. Valverde would have to be gone for Pinot to win and if he does I think that will put him Bove Bardet for now.
Speaking of Bardet, is his and Pinot rivalry more civil than Demare and Bouhani?
Form doesn't seem to make much difference to his GT results. With his inferior TT and lack of being a super climber where he can can claw back time regularly, it's hard to see him winning a GT and he's not going to be allowed to go in a break unless he has lost a lot of time. He looks much more convincing as a stage hunter where he's not under pressure every day to hold or elevate his GC position. One of those riders that can look really good for 16 days or so then he starts to suffer more or becomes ill. The fact that he made the Tour podium in 2014 is a bit misleading because everyone was riding for second place that year. Nibali was just riding away whenever he felt like it. And the fact that Peraud also finished on the podium is food for thought......I think he could possibly podium a GT again but I'm not convinced he will win one but of course I never expected Thomas to win one either.........he reminds me a little of a more talented version of a young Kreuziger but a better sprinter. The hilly classics and one week stage races are good for him. Rui Costa and Spilak wised up about their GC possibilities in grand tours. Porte is another one who may have wasted his best years targeting the wrong races. Such is hindsight.yaco said:The advantage Pinot has in GT's is that depending on his form he can ride for GC or go stage-hunting - And he has the ability to win a stage from the leader's group.
Cleaning the wallsRollthedice said:Grande Tibo! Big congrats and where is Tonton?
Yes, he completely transformed his palmares in three months. They weren’t bad before, but now he is in a higher tier of riders.Gigs_98 said:Not only a great race but one hell of a last part of a season in general. Two vuelta stages, a semi classic and to top it off a monument. Chapeau to one of the peloton's most likable riders.
HE MADE ITTonton said:What a race, what a ride, what a win, what a Champion! I'm a nervous wreck right now. I knew that he could do it, I felt that the Muraut di Sormanot could be the beginning of something big, but in my wildest dreams I didn't dare imagining this display of class, aggression, and skills. Wow! Bravo Tibopino!
Honestly I don't think the Ardennes are hard enough for the kind of racing we're seeing. They're hard enough for climbers to be up there, but not hard enough to make the difference.Hugo Koblet said:Well done! I really like Pinot when he rides like this. Hopefully he'll target more one day-races next year.