As it was announced in December 2015 and confirmed last weekend, Thibaut Pinot will aim for the 2017 Giro d’Italia. The new goal requires adjustments to his schedule. Interviewed by several journalists from Est Républicain, Le Monde and L'Equipe, Pinot and his brother and coach, Julien, have revealed the expected program for the FDJ leader.

"After a start in the Grand Prix La Marseillaise, the expected path goes via the Tour of Valencia and the Volta ao Algarve. Tirreno-Adriatico should be a primary objective ," explained Julien Pinot in Est Républicain and added that the Tour of the Alps (formerly Giro del Trentino), the usual preparation for the Giro, could also be included in the program. This year Thibaut Pinot also made his comeback at Grand Prix La Marseillaise before heading to Etoile de Bessège. This time Pinot will again be at the Grand Prix La Marseillaise (Sunday, January 29) before moving on to the Tour of Valencia which is held at the same time as Etoile de Bessèges (February 1-5) but has a much harder gourse.

In 2016 the Tour of Valencia was revived after an 8-year absence from the calendar. Wout Poels took the win by winning the time trial and the queen stage to Xorret del Cati while Daniel Martin won at the top of Fredes at 1151 meters altitude. The route of the 2017 edition is not yet known but the queen stage has already been revealed. It will finish at the top of very difficult Mas de la Costa where Mathias Frank won this year at the Vuelta a Espana. The 3.8km climb average 12.5% ​​with a passage of 21%. The top is located at 980 meters of altitude. Earlier, the riders will tackle five climbs.  We can also expect a possible another summit finish and a team time trial in Alicante which has become a specialty of the FDJ team.

The course for the Volta ao Algarve has been fully disclosed and it remains similar to the 2016 edition. There will be a first summit finish at Alto Fóia, a rolling climb which does not necessarily suit the pure climbers Luis Leon Sanchez won in 2016. The finish on the final day will be at the top of the Alto de Malhão. It is much steeper and was conquered by Alberto Contador this year. Pinot took part in the race and finished sixth and third on Fóia and Malhão respectively which allowed him to take fourth place overall. There will also be a time trial in Sagres which should be the same as in 2016, where Pinot was twelfth, 1.02 behind the winner Fabian Cancellara.

The route of Tirreno Adriatico will be announced on December 15, but Thibaut Pinot should also make his debut at Strade Bianche a few days before the start of Tirreno.