It is widely recognized that Thibaut Pinot enjoys immense popularity, especially among French cycling enthusiasts. However, today, the 33-year-old cyclist from the Groupama-FDJ team also received an emotional farewell at the Il Lombardia classic, marking the conclusion of his professional career.
The Frenchman’s fan club was present in large numbers in Italy today. On the Colle Aperto, the last climb of the day, the Frenchman was almost lifted off his bike with enthusiasm. The fan club was still in ecstasy after the end of the race, and Pinot’s name was sung loudly.
Pinot was unable to compete for victory in his last Il Lombardia. The French climber, who was the best in the “Race of the Falling Leaves” in 2018, crossed the finish line in 37th place in the company of his teammates Rudy Molard and Quentin Pacher. He finished just under nine minutes behind the day’s winner, Tadej Pogacar.
Afterward, Pinot felt like a blessed person, he said in a quick interview. “I’m not the best rider, but I truly have the best cycling fans in the world. I also don’t regret my decision to stop racing. Today was a very big celebration and a special day. I will always remember it. Honestly, I didn’t expect it; it was really crazy.”
“I especially remember crossing the finish line with my teammates. Many riders congratulated me at the beginning of the race. It’s good to feel valued in the peloton. We will celebrate tonight,” he also told Eurosport.