Passion doesn’t fade so easily. Nine months after his retirement last October, Thibaut Pinot continues to love cycling, and is never against a new challenge. This Sunday, July 14, he took on a new one, tackling the crossing of the Alps by bike with four friends, including his former teammate Arthur Vichot.
We already knew that he had not strayed far from sport, even if he had turned his back on the professional world. Living in Haute-Saône, the Franche-Comté native notably took part in a regional trail, which he finished in third place. This time, it was on a bike that he decided to push his limits, during a crossing of the Alps that will include seven stages up to the Mediterranean.
This Sunday, a national holiday, he completed the first stage between Thonon-les-Bains and Cluses. The goal of the former Groupama-FDJ climber, Arthur Vichot, double French champion, and their friends is to reach Nice after nearly 800 km of cycling and 18,000 m of positive elevation gain. This Monday, he was in the Col de la Colombière, before heading towards Beaufort, Val d’Isère or Briançon. Quite a program for the newly retired man who clearly still likes to suffer on steep slopes, even on a mountain bike.
