This Saturday July 22, 2023, the penultimate stage of the Tour de France linked Belfort to Markstein, in the Vosges mountains. The last mountain stage on the Tour of Thibaut Pinot, hero for a day, which brought together hundreds of supporters in a deafening atmosphere.
There are days that supporters will never forget. Thibaut Pinot fans can tick this July 22, 2023 and say ” I was there “. They were there, in the Petit Ballon, to greet their idol one last time, for his last Tour.
After this day, the Vosges will no longer have to blush in front of the Alps and the Pyrenees. Because the Petit Ballon looked like Alpe d’Huez with its Virage Pinot, which was born thanks to Twitter and its magic. There French Federation of Lose (FFL), and Ultras Pinot Collective (CUP) et Parionsport united to offer the Groupama-FDJ rider a memorable final lap.
Weeks that the organization was refined, between phone calls, exchanges on Twitter and competitions. In the days leading up to it, the hype was building. The result is an unforgettable day that begins at dawn. Shortly after 7 a.m., a bus from Paris climbs the pass. On board, a veritable army of ultras. The comparison with football is quite natural.
An indescribable atmosphere at the Petit Ballon. We were at the Parc des Princes, at La Meinau, at Bonal at the same time… • © Flavien Gagnepain / France Télévisions
Other lads arrived the day before to camp on the side of the road. Some come from Brest, Montpellier, Montauban for the same thing: to meet and sing for “Tibopino”. The idol of a whole generation, the one who has not had a French victory at Roland-Garros or on the Tour de France. The last time she believed in it was in 2019, with Pinot. A muscle injury to the left thigh will have decided otherwise.
Since then, the 33-year-old runner has joined these magnificent losers that the French love so much. Pinot will never win the Tour, his supporters know it. But in this era where ultra-optimization, cycling which is becoming a star, one man stands out and his name is Thibaut. The native of Lure, who never feels as fulfilled as with his biquettes, fascinates.
From 9 a.m., the turn takes shape. The songs too. Everyone revised and sang the tributes to Pinot. Behind his megaphone, Capo Pierre shouts. “We owe him that, with all the emotions he gave us”, he slips all smiles. The Dutch, Belgians and Danes who had parked their motorhomes for three days are no match for once.
After two hours of heating up the bend, a procession forms, again like soccer players. They are 300 to climb the Petit Ballon and are just waiting to make the bend bigger, transformed into a grandstand. A nod to the star of the day, a regular at the Parc des Princes. “We both created crazy emotions in the stands. So it was obvious to be there today for Thibaut. He’s a guy I care about.”testifies the double champion of France Arthur Vichot, his number one supporter.
Double champion of France, Arthur Vichot has put on his cap as the number one supporter of “Tibopino”. • © Flavien Gagnepain / France Televisions
After a morning encouraging the amateur cyclists who are climbing the first category pass, a large part of the troop takes a moment of respite for a typical meal at the Buchwald farm inn, the HQ for the day. At coffee time, the songs resume. Hurry, the caravan is coming.
It is 2:30 p.m. and the temperature is rising several degrees. In both ways. The sun beats down on the road. The network is catastrophic. The race started an hour ago but it is impossible to know where Thibaut is. When all of a sudden : “Thibaut attacked! He is alone in front! ». In delirium, the crowd awaits its hero. A seemingly endless wait. Until 4:23 p.m., when the dream scenario arrives.
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The moment that everyone has been waiting for, the passage of Pinot, alone in its turn. • ©Flavien Gagnepain / France Televisions
Alone in the lead, Thibaut Pinot cuts through a particularly disciplined crowd despite the enthusiasm. The decibels are exploding and everyone is starting to believe it: “And if he went to the end in front? “. The rest of the stage is followed a few tens of meters away. A human tide joins the farm-inn to scrutinize the only television in the area. She attends the victory of Pogacar, applauded by the French. “Everything except Vingegaard!”, yells a supporter. In the room full to bursting, the passage on the line of Pinot is applauded, covered with songs “Thank you Thibaut, thank you Thibaut, thank you! ».
It is 6 p.m. and the Vosges are gradually regaining their usual calm. The Virage Pinot tornado has passed and leaves behind a few red eyes. And they are not only due to the smoke bombs. “Seeing him take the lead was the dream scenario. The rest is incidental., summarizes Humbert, from the Collectif Ultras Pinot. Before taking the bus back to Paris, we hug, we debrief, we talk about cycling. That’s it, Thibaut and the Tour, it’s over.
Relive this historic day in our Twitter thread dedicated to the Pinot turn.
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