During the last week, Thibaut Pinot has proved that he has taken another step. In the plan made by the FDJ team, Tirreno-Adriatico was set to be a milestine. Fourth overall, he was again in the mix in today's stage when he was the only one to follow Nairo Quintana and Alberto Contador in the hectic middle part of stage 6.

"Today the riders did 210km and 10km of neutral racing in pouring rain," sports director Yvon Madiot said. "80 kilometers from the finish there was a small climb where Contador attacked, followed by Thibaut and Quintana. They were caught on the descent by fifteen riders, including Benoît Vaugrenard wjo is getting better. They were not enough to stay away and a first peloton of 80 riders was formed. We had all FDJ riders there."

In the end, Peter Sagan (Saxo-Tinkoff) took his first win in a sprint while FDJ draw a positive balance before the final time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto (10 km).

"Yoann Offredo abandoned during the stage because he hurt his knee," Madiot said. "But the remaining five riders are really good warriors. As for Thibaut, he had stayed with the best all the time, on the climbs, descents, on complicated roads, in rain and in stressful moments. It's good and he has matured. If I have to specifically mention one teammate, I can say that Steve Morabito has really been good, Benoît Vaugrenard is getting better, Matthieu Ladagnous has done a lot of work and Jérémy Roy was really great today."

For the final time trial, Pinot is realistic and nothing will change the impression he has left this week.

"I think Mollema (second) is a bit too far ahead for me in this short stage. Rigoberto Uran is eleven seconds ahead of me, but he goes well in time trials. If I consolidate my top 5, I am satisfied."