Criterium du Dauphiné revelation Pinot carefully managing his career

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) leads the best young rider classification.

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) leads the best young rider classification. (Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)

After his outstanding performance at the Critérium du Dauphiné last week, notably his breakaway and his second place on the final stage, Thibaut Pinot, aged 21, is going to miss his first participation to the Tour de France. “It will be hard to stay home and watch my friends on TV”, the FDJ rider confided to Cyclingnews the day after the race, obviously exhausted. “My heart says I should race the Tour, but reason has to win the day.”