Thibaut Pinot confermato per l’ultimo Tour de France, ma Démare non farà più parte del team Groupama-FDJ.

Thibaut Pinot has been included in the Groupama-FDJ team for the Tour de France in his final season as a professional, but there is no place for Arnaud Démare. Coach Marc Madiot announced the first five names on his team’s roster on Tuesday afternoon, when he also confirmed that sprinter Arnaud Démare would miss out on selection for the second consecutive year. David Gaudu, who finished fourth overall a year ago, will lead the team’s general classification challenge, while Pinot’s goal will be to pursue stage wins. Valentin Madouas, Kevin Geniets, and Stefan Küng have also been confirmed in the Tour squad, with the final three riders being announced closer to the Grand Départ. “Our team will focus on the mountains,” said Madiot on Tuesday in a statement from Groupama-FDJ. “The goal is, of course, the general classification with David Gaudu. We will also allow ourselves to go on the offensive with Thibaut Pinot, Valentin Madouas, and Stefan Küng.” Démare had been pencilled in for a possible Tour selection since last winter, even though Gaudu had expressed his opposition to the idea in an online chat that was leaked to the public in January. “He knows I don’t want him on the Tour, I’ve already told him,” said Gaudu before apologizing on social media. Speaking to L’Équipe from the Tour of Switzerland, Démare said that Madiot had informed him of his omission from the Tour team last Thursday. The Frenchman also revealed that he will leave Groupama-FDJ at the end of his contract this year, having been deemed surplus to requirements. “This was the second hard blow,” said Démare. “At the Boucles de la Mayenne, [Madiot] announced that it was the end with Groupama. Not in so many words, but I understood it was all over. He said to me: ‘We can’t keep you.’ And that was it.” Démare expressed frustration at missing out on the Tour after spending most of the season preparing for the race. “I’m angry and discouraged because I worked for this, and I made concessions this winter knowing I would have just one teammate with me for the sprints,” said Démare. “It wasn’t a race between Thibaut and me for a spot. We three [with Gaudu] could have done a good job together.” Démare is currently in action at the Tour of Switzerland, where he finished second behind Biniam Girmay in the bunch sprint on Stage 2. The 31-year-old has five Tour appearances in his career, winning two stages. “It was a difficult selection to make, especially the decision not to select Arnaud Démare. I can understand his disappointment,” said Madiot. “I have affinities with the riders, but the interests of the team must come first. It’s a sporting choice. I’m here to decide which team I consider to be the most competitive. There are strengths and weaknesses. I take responsibility for those choices.”

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