Thibaut Pinot failed to win the Tour de Suisse. Even though he did a very good time for a climber, he had to admit defeat on the demanding route for the final time trial. He finished fourteenth in the stage won by Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) and finished fourth overall just like in Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour de Romandie.

"It was a very difficult time trial, rather technical," he told CyclingPro.net. "I gave everything I had, finishing 14th which is not that bad. I think I'm in my place so I have no regrets . Yesterday I was tired after the stage and not very optimistic. I was tired mentally but this morning I went to see the course again and found it a bit less technical than yesterday where we did it in the road stage. It was a special time trial. In any case, I knew the time trial would create more differences than the summit finish. It's a shame as this is the third time in a row that I am fourth in GC.

"To win a stage gives value to the work I have done. I got my second victory in the WorldTour in the two uphill finishes that I did (this year). That is very important for me. This year I was consistently in the top 5. Next year I hope I can take another step and be on the podium more often.

"We have to learn and both my teammates and I have learned a lot. It was a great week for us. "It was the first time I was leading a World Tour race . I spent four days in yellow and that is new to us. It's a good experience and gives additional pressure. We had a little trouble at first. It takes time. I lament the dangerous finishes where you have to fight for position. I missed two 5-second splits but that was due to these finishes. We only see that here. I am happy with my week. In the team, it went well, the atmosphere is good.The team that was here is 90% of the Tour team and we wanted to be together. It is a satisfaction.

"First, I will recover and then I will train. I will not do the French Championships (next Sunday in Chantonnay in Vendée). I can not allow myself to travel for three days two weeks before the Tour. If it had been in the East, I would have gone."

"In this edition of the Tour of Switzerland, we had one opportunity to win and make differences," sports director Yvon Madiot said. "Thibaut did not fail. He took the victory and wore the yellow jersey until the last day. It is true that he lost seconds for three consecutive days but the course was not easy for a rider like Thibaut who is not a sprinter. And in the Tour, it is not like that.

"About the time trial, there is nothing to say as the real time triallists dominated but in a Grand Tour, the time trial means less compared to the mountain stages. We must remember the positive of this week. Thibaut's attitude and his team from the first day, his victory in Sölden and the fact that he has beaten all the great climbers at least once this season. The unique experience for us to have defended a leader's jersey in a WorldTour event. I can tell you that Thibaut, his teammates and the management have learned a lot this week. Now it is time for the Tour."

Pinot's lieutenant Steven Morabito was 16th and finished 8th overall.