Bourg-en-Bresse (AFP)
Thibaut Pinot declined his possible selection for the French team for the world championship scheduled for September 27 in Imola (Italy), we learned from national coach Thomas Voeckler on Friday.
"Thibaut warned me this morning, his back is causing him too much pain," the France team coach told AFP.
The Franc-Comtois, who would normally have been one of the leaders of the France team, is still feeling his fall during the first stage of the Tour de France, on August 29 in Nice.
Throughout the Tour, which he competes in the jersey of his Groupama-FDJ team, Pinot was unable to defend his chances.
Two days before the arrival in Paris, he is almost two hours behind the yellow jersey, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic.
"Thibaut is honest, he respects the France team," underlined Thomas Voeckler who had given earlier this week, with the French Cycling Federation (FFC), the list of 13 preselected.
The list of the eight holders will be announced on Sunday, before the start of the 21st and final stage of the Tour.
© 2020 AFP