La Vuelta: Thibaut Pinot was not bluffing, Quentin Pacher bluffing: Groupama-FDJ, successful day

It’s not for lack of warning. Thibaut Pinot does not “play the general”, according to the established formula. He did not enter the 77th Vuelta with the aim of signing a “Top who knows how many” in Madrid. The Franc-Comtois joined the deeds to the words Tuesday during the 4th stage. He took 96th place, 6’14” behind Primoz Roglic, winner at Laguardia. So much for confirmation of his lack of ambition for the final classification.

But Pinot did not only talk about his change of perspective – which dates from a few months ago – before starting this Tour of Spain. The climber from the Groupama-FDJ team also said he was in good shape, little affected by the efforts made during the Grande Boucle. He didn’t seem to lie about that either. In the final, we saw him stretch his legs towards the front of the pack, his team betting on other cards.

Frantic pace, Alaphilippe in withdrawal, Roglic in demonstration: The summary of the 4th stage

“In front, it’s very, very heavy”

At the start of the stage, Thibaut Pinot had targeted, at our microphone, the two assets of Groupama-FDJ, for this day reserved for punchers: Rudy Molard and Quentin Pacher. The first did not sparkle (42nd) but the second shone (4th). At the foot of the podium, behind Roglic, Mads Pedersen and Enric Mas, Pacher was smiling after this fourth day of racing: “I have no regrets, I’m even quite satisfied“, he estimates with our special envoys.

I think I can’t be disappointed with my fourth placehe insists, as reported by his training. In front, it’s very, very heavyThe 30-year-old puncher has still not experienced victory among the pros. Third in the 1st stage of the Tour of Catalonia, this year, he signed an even more striking result. He equaled his best mark in the Grand Tour, two years after having established it during the Tour de France 2020.

Roglic, so easy: Relive the victorious arrival of the Slovenian

Another “Top 10″… while waiting for the win?

It’s been a demanding day, there’s been a big, big tempo, says Quentin Pacher. He there was a small skimming in the last bump and after that the road was less wide during the last five kilometers, so you had to be in a good position to have the chance to make your effort.” Luck, the “paw” and the nose: “I managed to do well in the final, to be on the right track when it started. I’m not far from where I belong.”

Here is the story of a good start on Iberian soil for Groupama-FDJ, already rather prominent in the Netherlands. It has always been represented in the “Top 10” of the stage, since the start of this Vuelta, as Pacher recalls. Remarkable regularity. But turning a successful day into a glorious day requires victory. What Pinot came for, and he is the type to match words with deeds.

The profile of the 5th stage: Time for the “Remco-show”?

source site