France's Thibaut Pinot said that he "must first win the All-Japan Championships" before deciding whether to retire six months earlier.

Earlier this year, the 33-year-old Pinot had announced that he would retire at the end of the season, but in the spring he also said on French radio, "The only chance I have to stay retired is to become National Champion. To spend a year as French Champion has always been a dream for me"

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Earlier this week, however, Pinot partially retracted these comments, telling the news agency AFP, "I was joking when I said that," but added, "That said, there are things that make you think. But in any case, we are not there yet.

Speaking about his current race program, Pinot said that he will go into the French national championship road race with "only one goal." Winning. Nevertheless, the team has a race strategy and the important thing is for the team to bring home the title. We will be one of the strongest teams."

Asked if the 2023 All-Japan Championship circuit in Kassel in northern France suits him, Pinot said, "Yes, if it was 200 km and only had a final climb, I wouldn't have a chance."

"But when you have a 4000 meter vertical climb, you become a different kind of puncher. You need more resistance. When you come back from a Grand Tour like I did and you've just done the Giro, there's always that kind of distance in your legs. Maybe that's my small advantage."

Pinot was cautious about whether the victory would ultimately mean a six-month postponement of his retirement, as originally promised, but had no doubts about his participation in the Tour de France.

"In my last season, I would have regretted not being able to go out. I want to enjoy the Tour de France and I consider it like a party. There could be some nice surprises before we get to Paris."

In another part of the wide-ranging interview, Pinot said he was seriously affected by the death of Gino Mader at last week's Tour de Suisse.

"It was a real shock," he told AFP, "I was out training when I heard the news and it was really difficult to complete my run."

"We crossed paths a lot in the race and I liked him a lot.

Pinot explained that he and Mader (who, like Pinot, is a talented climber) liked to sit in the back of the pack, where they would often talk.

"After the accident, I thought about it on almost every descent during training. But I wasn't even at the Tour de Suisse. For those who were there, it must have been even tougher."

"I'm a rider who doesn't take many risks. People often say that we have to disconnect our brains when we are on the bike, but I have a big problem with that idea. We are participating in a dangerous sport."