Thibaut Pinot is ready to use his rage to surge back into contention on the Tour de France as the race heads to his favourite terrain, the mountains.
The Frenchman was the best placed of the pre-race favourites on Monday when he was caught at the wrong end of a peloton split in crosswinds. He lost one minute, 40 seconds to slip down to 11th overall, more than two and a half minutes behind leader Julian Alaphilippe.
Defending champion Geraint Thomas, however, is in the driving seat in second place, just 1:12 behind the Frenchman and 1:21 ahead of Pinot.
During Tuesday's rest day, Groupama-FDJ's Pinot was still fuming at the positioning error that ruined his until-then perfect opening week, but he and his team vowed to bounce back.
"I feel frustration, I feel anger, I feel rage," said the 29-year-old Pinot, third overall in 2014, his face a mask of cold determination.
Making up for lost time on Thomas and his Ineos team mate Egan Bernal, who is only four seconds behind the Welshman, is a tough ask especially with an individual time trial that should favour the defending champion on Friday.
"Do not write our obituary," team manager Marc Madiot said. "You're going to see some outstanding Thibaut Pinot. His victory at the Giro Di Lombardia [one of five Monument classics last October] showed that he is a champion.
"His rage the other night shows that he can be a great champion."
Madiot described Monday's fiasco as "a blow to the liver", saying his protégé was "1-0 down at half-time in a Champions League game".
"We're only midway through the race and, good for us, the hardest part is yet to come," he said.
After Wednesday's flat 11th stage, the Tour will hit the Pyrenees, with a couple of tough climbs featuring in Thursday's 12th stage and a mountain-top finish at the Col du Tourmalet on Saturday.
"I know that I have the legs. I can't wait for Saturday, I have so much rage in me. The finish at top of the Tourmalet is going to hurt, the legs will do the talking," Pinot said.
"We're going to be aggressive, we have a team for that in the mountains," he added, citing team mates Sebastien Reichenbach, David Gaudu and Rudy Molard.
If the disappointment of Monday is not behind him yet, Pinot will use it for motivation.
"I've had some tough times in my career and I've always bounced back," he said.
"I know that on the morning of the time trial on Friday and on Saturday before the Tourmalet stage, I will think of all this."
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
