Roland Defends Pinault Despite Suggestions of Retirement Amid B&B Hotels Fiasco

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Roland Defends Pinault Despite Suggestions of Retirement Amid B&B Hotels Fiasco
[Pierre Rolland, two-time Tour de France stage winner after the collapse of the B&B Hotels-KTM team, is considering retirement. But the Frenchman holds no grudges and has spoken sympathetically of embattled team boss Jérôme Pinault.

Laurent, one of 20 riders in the French second division team under contract until 2023, is in a tight spot with three weeks to go until the start of the new season.

He has already begun to contemplate ending his career this season and eventually signed a one-year extension with B&B Hotels, but this contract was voided.

He has already been rumored to be returning to his former team, Total Energies, but on Thursday he revealed that he may be steering clear of them altogether.

"I've had some contacts, and there's a possibility that maybe I'll continue. But there is also the possibility of quitting," Rolland told OuestFrance, adding that he has already begun planning to "change careers." [Honestly, it's too early to say what I'm going to do. We are still waiting."

Rolland said in an optimistic tone that the team could survive as a third division at the continental level in 2023. On Wednesday, the complete collapse of the team, which was supposed to expand with the signing of Mark Cavendish and the creation of a women's team and development team, was widely reported.

Even if they had the budget to run a continental team--which is unlikely without access to major races--it would be difficult to get a license from the French Federation at this stage.

"I'm not saying it's all over," Pinault told OuestFrance: "Yes, as it stands it's cancelled. ...... If a miracle happens, we will bring everyone back again."

Rolland said that even if that "miracle" happened, he would either move to a bigger team or retire.

"I will continue to support this project, even if I don't personally sign on," he said. 'The continental level, in my opinion, is for young riders. At the end of my career, that's not what I want."

"I'm not going to be a part of this project.

Laurent supported Pinot in his last hope of saving the team he built in 2019 and defended the French rider against the criticism coming his way in recent days.

Pinot announced plans for a major investment over the summer, especially from the city of Paris and other rumored corporate backers, but the money never materialized and his last talks with his brother, Sebastien, proved fruitless.

"For me, it's more nuanced. But I know that Jerome and B&B Hotels did not want this to happen.

"There was a problem at one moment, and Jerome will eventually explain, but I think they were duped. It is possible that they were sold a dream. But nobody wanted this to happen.

"Jerome believed in me for 2019 and I had signed a four-year contract with him. Jerome is still a young director and the economic situation is very complicated. Mistakes can happen."

Roland concluded by reiterating his belief that the team could continue to fight in the third division in 2023 and bounce back in 2024.

"There may be anger, but I want to believe it is not over yet.

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