Thibaut Pinot, leader of Groupama-FDJ, had hoped to better his previous podium placing on the Tour, but crash injuries on the first stage ended those general classification hopes. The signs on the road from Lure to La Planche des Belles Filles carrying his name appeared to be the main reason he persevered despite his fall down the leaderboard and never finding his legs for a mountain stage win.
His hometown of Melisey was on the route and he grew up riding those roads, so that was motivation enough. With two Slovenians and an Australian taking all the podium placings this year, the French public will have to wait another year for another Frenchman to replace Bernard Hinault as the last Frenchman to win the Tour de France. Pinot is currently placed at 29th, 1h59m33s behind overall leader Tadej Pogacar before the final processional stage into Paris. The best placed Frenchman is Guillaume Martin of Cofidis at 11th, 16m58s behind.
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