The Breakaway team have given their reactions to the hugely entertaining, if ultimately unsuccessful, attacks from Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) after he lost out to Einer Rubio (Movistar Team) on Stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia on Friday.
Pinot repeatedly launched swashbuckling attacks on the very dramatic, at times chaotic and weather-affected route which had to be shortened earlier in the day. But it was Rubio whose composure shone through in a thrilling finish as he took an unlikely win.
The Frenchman appeared to let his frustrations get the better of him as he gesticulated at another escapee Jefferson Alexander Cepeda (EF Education-EasyPost) for not taking a turn at the front during a climb and then burst forward in another explosive attack that eventually petered out.
Giro d'Italia
‘They took advantage of it’ – Pinot hits out after falling short on Stage 13
19/05/2023 AT 20:18
Adam Blythe, Robbie McEwen and Dan Lloyd had their say in the studio after the day's racing, and the trio all agreed that emotions seemed to scupper Pinot's best intentions with emotions causing some ill-advised tactics.
"It is almost like he forgot to be a bike racer," Blythe began on The Breakaway. "He rode all the way up that climb on the front, kept attacking, kept being brought back, kept attacking.
"If you do that three or four times, you'd be like 'I'm not doing this anymore, I'm just going to save myself because they just keep catching me'. So for me, it was quite daft of him really, I think that is the politest way to put it.
"It was just like he unattached his brain. I think maybe a little bit of arrogance came over him thinking 'I'm a lot better than you guys, I'm going to keep doing this' because why else would you keep riding the whole way up that climb on the front?"
McEwen agreed and was left equally confused by Pinot's flamboyant but exhausting approach.
"He rides on passion and emotion, and it often gets the better of him, like today," McEwen said. "He just attacked himself to a standstill because he was so irritated where Cepeda would not contribute, and Rubio did not do much either.
"Pinot argued with him, he yelled at him, he gestured at him, then he rode even harder on the front himself. He attacked on the climb until he had nothing left.
"Pinot was the out-and-out favourite and is quite punchy at the finish, but he just used all of his energy on the way up the climb. He would have won in spite of himself because it was not intelligent the way he rode all the way up. Had he won, you would have said he got away with it."

Stage 13 highlights - Rubio takes victory after weather and Pinot drama

Lloyd added: "We love him for it, but Pinot wears his heart on his sleeve, and you see all of his emotions on display whenever he is riding a bike. He could have done things a little bit differently in that last climb to the finish to try to take the win today."
Regardless of Pinot's tactical approach, it was a day to remember for a delighted Rubio, who later revelled in what he had achieved.
"It will take time for me to realise that I won a stage of the Giro d'Italia," he later said in his press conference. "I didn't believe I'd do it."

'It screams confidence' - Blythe delighted about Thomas prospects after Stage 13

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Giro d'Italia
Stage 13 highlights - Rubio takes victory after weather and Pinot drama
19/05/2023 AT 16:01
Giro d'Italia
'It was daft' - Reaction to Pinot's dramatic attacks on chaotic Stage 13
19/05/2023 AT 15:57