Having already been forced out of the Tour of Oman due to illness, Thibaut Pinot had another setback yesterday when he abandoned the Tirreno-Adriatico with knee pain. Instead, it was left to Alexandre Geniez to defend the FDJ colours but the young Frenchman could only manage 26th.

Thibaut Pinot has had a disastrous start to the 2014 season. Having travelled all the way to the Middle East, he never got the chance to start the Tour of Oman due to illness and yesterday knee pain forced him out after 180km of the Tirreno-Adriatico queen stage.

"The pain started ten days ago after a workout," sports director Martial Gayant said. "The next day Thibaut didn't feel anything but it reappeared last Friday. Since then, it has been there. He feels pain when he gets out of the saddle, not when he is sitting on his bike. In this great mountain stage with a long distance and many climbs, Thibaut felt bad and the pain had spread to the patella. He withdrew after 180km."

With Pinot out, it was left to Alexandre Geniez to lead FDJ but he was isolated in the 40-rider group that emerged after the first two climbs of the stage. In the end, he could only manage 26th, 1.08 behind stage winner Alberto Contador.

"The level was very high," Gayant said. "In his car, Frédéric Guesdon talked a lot to him, gave him advice and encouraged him to finish with the best. In such circumstances, it's not so bad to finish one minute behind the best."

You can read our preview of stage 5 here.

"  It's a pain that appeared there ten days after a workout , says Martial Gayant. Thibaut did not feel anything the next day on his bike this time and reappeared on Friday. Since it is there. He feels the pain when he gets out of the saddle, not when it is sitting on his bike. In this great stage passes, the distance and difficulty helping Thibaut felt less well, pain spreading across the patella. He left at km 180. "