Marc Madiot: Thibaut Pinot is a rider of paradoxes

Thibaut Pinot and Marc Madiot
Thibaut Pinot and Marc Madiot (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

When Thibaut Pinot spoke, in his retirement interview, of rejecting the offer of a smart-watch and selling his home trainer as soon as possible, it wasn't hard to imagine Marc Madiot reading on with a nodding smile of approval. But while Pinot appears to pine for the cycling of Madiot's racing era, the Groupama-FDJ boss himself is moving with the times. 

It was Madiot, after all, who gave the green light for all his riders to be kitted out with the watches that would monitor their every step and every heartbeat. Previously disdainful of Team Sky and suspicious of sports science's sweeping takeover of professional cycling, the Frenchman has learned - reluctantly perhaps - to embrace the modern methods that now govern the sport. 

Patrick Fletcher

Patrick is a freelance sports writer and editor. He’s an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish). Patrick worked full-time at Cyclingnews for eight years between 2015 and 2023, latterly as Deputy Editor.