Just days after announcing his retirement at the end of the 2023 season, Thibaut Pinot withdrew, leaving the door slightly open for 2024.

The Frenchman has indicated that if he becomes French national road racing champion this summer, he may extend his racing career by half a season.

That's because he would get the blue, white, and red French champion jersey.

"I made a bet with some of the guys on the team," Pinot revealed in an interview with RMC radio. 'The only possibility for me to continue for six months is to become national champion, to wear the jersey for one year.'

"That's the only condition for me to continue in 2024."

Pinot has been national champion at the elite level before, but only in time trial events, and in 2016 he won the purple against the clock. He abstained the day before his chance to debut his blue, white, and red skinsuit at that year's Tour de France, but raced in the national champion's colors four times in 2017.

But it is clear that the road racing jersey means more to Pinot, who has won stages in all three Grand Tours and was a Monument Champion at Il Lombardia.

"It has always been a dream of mine to spend a year wearing the jersey," Pinot said.

However, the 32-year-old Pinot has rarely raced domestically, competing in only four road races in his 13-year career, with his best result coming in 2016, when he finished 12th. In recent years, French road races have often been held on flat or punchy courses with no climbs to Pinot's advantage, but in 2019, fellow climber Warren Barguil took the title.

This year's national championships will be held in Normandy, northern France, on the last weekend in June.

Groupama-FDJ boss Marc Madiot dismissed Pinot's chances, but the door was open as well.

"That's something new for me. If he can become French champion and finish his career on top, I would sign him in a heartbeat."

"After that, if he signs a six-month contract, it's possible, but at the moment it's not happening."

Pinot plans to retire after the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Il Lombardia in 2023.