The riders still haven't done Sunday's queen stage and the difficult final climb to Terminillo but Thibaut Pinot and the FDJ team have been successful until now in Tirreno-Adriatico. Following a difficult stage won by Wout Poels (Team Sky), Pinot is fourth overall and wears the white jersey of best young rider.

The stage was long and grueling with the double climb in the finale and it was climbed at a brisk speed. Always well supported by his teammates, accompanied to the final climb by Steve Morabito, Pinot has never left the top positions except for a brief moment in the end.

"He has suddenly dropped," says sports director Yvon Madiot. "Until then, he felt very well and suddenly he was dropped out of nowhere. In this nervous race, he had not eaten enough and I think he had symptoms of a hunger knock but he taken his place in the peloton before the top and did well on the descent."

Pinot was 16th in the stage, 14 secons behind the winner, and finished with a group of 17 riders.

"The second lap was a little more difficult for him but they spent 6 hours and 20 minutes in the saddle," Gayant says. "It was a very fast stage. Thibaut did 410 watts on the first climb and 440 on the second."

Apart from Steve Morabito, Pinot had Jérémy Roy close him until the final lap and the result obtained in Castelraimondo is very important for the future.

"The decision will be made on the Terminillo," Gayant sayds. "Today, many riders followed but only a few will be able to be there on the Terminillo, a pass which has sections of more than 10%. Snow is also forecasted.

"Thibaut is fourth and we would like to keep that position. It's good for him and for the team members. For all the work we have asked from them."