2023-05-22 19:33:11
Thibaut Pinot (centre) is hoping for at least one stage victory for the last Giro of his career. LUCA BETTINI / AFP
However wearing the pink jersey, the Frenchman Bruno Armirail confirms that he will favor his teammate over his leader’s jersey.
«That will be all for Thibaut Pinot“, assured the 29-year-old rider in a press videoconference during the 2nd day of rest of the Giro on Monday. The first French wearer of the pink jersey since 1999, Bruno Armirail announced an unchanged objective on Monday for the last week of the Tour of Italy: “The team keeps the objective of competing in the general classification with Thibaut».
«My role will be to keep the jersey as long as possible“Explained the French time trial champion on the eve of a mountainous 16th stage starting from Sabbio Chiese in Lombardy to arrive at the top of the endless Monte Bondone, 21.4 kilometers at 6.7% medium slope.
«Once I have lost him, I will have to stay in contact with Thibaut as long as possible to help him win a stage victory or sign the best possible general classification.he continued.
Two high mountain stages remain on the program: that of Monte Bondone on Tuesday, the other Friday at the mythical Tre Cime di Lavaredo on Friday. In the general classification, the leader of Groupama-FDJ is 3 minutes and 15 seconds behind Geraint Thomas (Ineos), current dolphin of Armirail and 3 minutes and 13 seconds over Primoz Roglic (Jumbo), big favorite for the final victory. .
In the meantime, Bruno Armirail intends to take advantage of the Maglia Rosa, which no French rider had worn since Laurent Jalabert in 1999.It’s just a bonus to have had this pink jersey, if I can keep it tomorrow night (Tuesday), that would be fantastic.»
Especially given the conditions of this Giro in the first two weeks of the race, where driving rain rinsed the peloton almost every day and where around forty riders were forced to retire, including Remco Evenepoel.
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