Tour de France: Pinot profits from impromptu alliance with Alaphilippe

Julien Pinot was the first to be cocooned by microphones and television cameras outside the Groupama-FDJ bus following stage 8 of the Tour de France in Saint-Étienne. Brother and coach of Thibaut Pinot, he balanced praise for his younger sibling's offensive over the final ascent of the Côte de la Jaillère with caution about the long road ahead. The frères Pinot know from onerous experience that July is a fickle month. "We know very well that the race lasts three weeks," he smiled.

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Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.