Nice (AFP)
A painful entry for Thibaut Pinot: the Frenchman fell in the final of the first stage of the Tour de France, Saturday, in Nice.
The main French chance for the general classification of the Tour, the Franc-Comtois reached the finish line with his Groupama-FDJ teammates, his jersey torn at the level of the right shoulder, showing bruises, and his gloomy eyes.
From an accounting perspective, Pinot wasted no time compared to his opponents. The times had been neutralized by the jury of commissaires at the 3 kilometers, at the request of the runners warned by the falls during the previous passages on the Promenade des Anglais.
However, the massive fall in which the leader of the Groupama-FDJ team was caught occurred shortly after the passage under the banner of 3 kilometers.
But, for Pinot who had left the Tour last year two days from the finish because of a muscle injury, the race resumed in a difficult way, although he had so far negotiated all the pitfalls of 'a very slippery road.
Without saying a word, the Franc-Comtois joined his team's bus to leave the finish area, on the eve of tackling the first passes of the Tour (Colmiane, Turini) on the route drawn in the back -Nice country.
"It's part of the race," reacted, disappointed, the boss of the French team, Marc Madiot. "Thibaut avoided the falls to the three terminals. Then, it had to get in the way and he was caught."
"He fits like a boy who has just had a fall," added Marc Madiot. "He was annoyed, pissed off. But, with a good night's recovery, things should be fine."
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