The last climb, very steep, named in honor of Laurent Jalabert who wrote the legend there on July 14, 1995, presented favorable terrain for the climber from Franche-Comté, looking for a fourth victory on the Tour.
Starting at the front in the breakaway of the day, he could believe it at the foot of the three kilometers of ascent leading to the aerodrome.
Alas, he "didn't have the legs" to climb faster and couldn't do better than third in the stage behind Australian Michael Matthews and Italian Alberto Bettiol.
"I am doing with the means I have. Compared to my power data, I know that I am not at the top. I am very disappointed", declared on arrival Pinot, 32, affected by the Covid -19 just before the start of the Grande Boucle.
Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, 3rd of the 14th stage of the Tour de France, disputed between Saint-Etienne and Mende, July 16, 2022 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP
The Groupama-FDJ climber came very close to a victory last Sunday in Châtel, finishing in 4th place after a fruitless chase behind the Luxembourger Bob Jungels.
No psychodrama this time as in 2015 when, on the same aerodrome in Mende, Thibaut Pinot and Romain Bardet had their politeness grilled by Stephen Cummings.
But a new disappointment all the same for the French camp which does not manage to unlock its counter on this Tour.
"It takes a bit of everything"
The fault of an increasingly tough international context with the best runners in the world who tumble down starved to pin success in the most prestigious race of the year on their list.
"On the Tour, all the stages are good to take, so in all the breakaways there are very strong like today Matthews", underlined Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels), good 15th on Saturday.
"To win on the Tour, you need a bit of success, a bit of luck, a bit of legs, a bit of everything. You have to have the right elements with you", commented Pinot who nevertheless promised to "try again" .
Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, winner of the combativeness prize, after the arrival of the 9th stage of the Tour de France, disputed between Aigle (Switzerland) and Chatel Les Portes du Soleil, July 10, 2022 Marco BERTORELLO AFP / Archives
The absence of Julian Alaphilippe also deprives the Blues of an asset of choice.
The double world champion had raised his arms from one of the first three stages in the last three editions.
Arnaud Démare, one of the best sprinters in the world, is also missing, not selected by his team, Groupama-FDJ.
Gaudu regains confidence
Only twice in the history of the Tour, in 1926 and 1999, France has finished the Grande Boucle without any victory.
There are seven steps left to avoid the zero point.
If several riders like Warren Barguil or Guillaume Martin have already returned home because of a positive coronavirus test, Romain Bardet (4th overall) and David Gaudu (8th) will go hunting next week in the Pyrenees where they will also want to defend their place in the Top 10.
Gaudu, designated leader of Groupama-FDJ before the Tour in place of Pinot, is even waiting impatiently because the form is there.
“Rarely have I had legs like that in (a race of) three weeks,” he even said.
At Alpe d'Huez, he regretted not having dared to give himself up more for "lack of confidence".
This time he "unleashed the horses" on the final climb, arriving just behind the scarecrows Pogacar and Vingegaard.
Frenchman David Gaudu, in the climb to Alpe d'Huez, end of the 12th stage of the Tour de France, July 14, 2022 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP
Less comfortable on Saturday, Romain Bardet (DSM) is also betting on the Pyrenees to try to win a stage.
In 2016, we had to wait until the 19th stage to see a Frenchman finally win.
And it was precisely he who had relieved the nation, at Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc.
© 2022 AFP