Climbing is hard enough, and particularly for Pinot, climbing has been more difficult than usual. The young French climber experienced a physical and mental breakdown during this year’s Tour de France, but today he had to climb under unusual circumstances. 

"I climbed the Mirador de Ezaro with only one gear (28) because a rider hit me and broke my derailleur. At the top, Alexandre Geniez gave me his bike and I got mine back ten kilometres further down the road. Like Kenny Elissonde, I finished at the front but I’m sorry for my team-mate who sacrificed himself for me," said Pinot.

Pinot is currently 29th, 1'41" down on race leader Nibali (Astana). It will be interesting to see if he can find his form. In last year’s Tour he showed a huge potential when he climbed with the best on several occasions and even won a great mountain stage. If he has recovered fully, both mentally and physically, he will be an outsider for the top 10. He could also try to go for the mountains jersey or maybe a stage win. 

With 11 summit finished in the Vuelta, the race is definitely better suited for his characteristics than the Tour de France and he should have many chances to shine in the Spanish Grand Tour if he is back on track, which the start of the Vuelta may indicate. Before the start of the race he mentioned that he was hungry for racing and that he couldn’t wait to wash off the disappointment from the Tour.