Thibaut Pinot still France’s favourite but hopes of home glory thin on the ground

Every Tour has its earworm and this year’s nifty little number, Tibopino, is out there on YouTube, dedicated to France’s Tour hero Thibaut Pinot. “Allez Pinot,” the singer intones, adding one of the best – or worst, depending on how you see these things – puns to grace the French language: “Sur un vélo, t’es beau, Pinot.” You look good on a bike, Pinot.

There is a more telling line in the song, however: “ça fait longtemps depuis l’Blaireau” – it’s been a long time since the Badger – referring to the 36 years of hurt since France’s last victory in the men’s Tour de France, when the Badger, as Bernard Hinault was known, won for the fifth time.

France’s recent fortunes in the Tour were epitomised on Friday by Christophe Laporte’s ride in the opening time trial: a promising beginning followed by a pratfall on a corner. Year after year since the late Laurent Fignon’s runner-up placing to Greg LeMond in 1989, French hopes have been raised, then abruptly shattered.

Barring a highly improbable turn of events, 36 years of French frustration in the men’s Tour is about to become 37. Pinot is not starting the race as the leader of his Groupama-FDJ team after requesting that the role should be delegated – for the moment at least – to the young climber David Gaudu, who supported Pinot in the 2019 race.

Pinot’s reluctance to lead Groupama is understandable. His last two Tours both ended in agony, with a thigh injury putting him out in 2019 and a nasty crash in 2020’s opening stage leading to an 18-month battle to return to his best.

He spoke this past week about how the pressure of leadership has made riding the Tour increasingly onerous, notably the fear that something will happen in the opening week to destroy his chances. Pinot