" C'est fini."Thibaut Pinot effectively ended his professional career after finishing Il Lombardy.

"I'm far from being a world champion, but I have the best public in the world. It was a great experience," he said about the hundreds of screaming Pinot Ultras fans who traveled to Italy for his last dance, gathered at "Kurba Pinot" on the final climb of the race to Bergamo Alto to cheer and celebrate his unique character and career.

Pinot teammate Valentin Madouas was annoyed by a scrum of photographers who jumped on Pinot at the finish line and asked, "Did you win today?"

Tadej Pogağar (UAE Team Emirates) won in Il Lombardy in 2023, but the Groupama-FDJ team bus race, roadside fans and a large crowd defended Pinot.

"I'm embarrassed by all of it, I don't know if I deserve it," Pino suggested later.

"Curva Pinot" was a "complete mess," Pinot said. He almost dragged off his bike as his fans shouted his name and tried to touch him in the final moments of emotion.

"I like such passion," the Frenchman admitted.

""Curva Pinot" is a pure celebration," said one of the staff of Groupama-FDJ. "It really shouldn't exist, it's just fun and a little ironic because it contrasts with Pino's character.

"It happened at the Tour de France to Petit Ballon d'arzas," Village Pino. At Il Lombardia, Thibault gave people extra motivation to create another non-cycling event in a bicycle race.

There was a lot of emotion and tears after the song and cheers, and the common question among Pinot Ultras was: "What time did you cry for the first time today?"

Pinot was also emotional. "I've never won so many races in my career, but I think winning is even a boring thing. People want feelings of good or bad. They also know that I am like them, with the same hobbies and interests, the same fears and the same emotions.

Arthur and Antoine, two young friends living in Paris, rode more than 1000 kilometers from the French capital to pay tribute to Pinot during his last dance. They joined the large Ultras fan club in Il Lombardia and took part in the celebration.

"This is a kind of pilgrimage," Arthur said. "It's a bit ironic that I suffered from tendonitis on day 2 of my bike journey, it's pinot-esque, isn't it?" he said.

All Pinot fans who stood on the last climb shared stories and memories, buoyed by Italian beer and cheese fondue cooked in the middle of the street.

Pinot's retirement party was attended by a 33-year-old French fan, his young former teammates, and a group of friends to celebrate together. Many people who drove hundreds of kilometers to the city merged and it was something rarely seen in cycling during the last few years.

At the age of 22, Pinot won the stage of the Tour de France in 2012 and was the best young rider of the year. He won again in the Alpes de Fues in 2015 and in the Col du Tourmale in 2019, and the injury robbed him of his overall chances of winning. But it is his defeat and feelings that captured the hearts of people.

"The French may really like losers," suggested Pino.

After the end of Il Lombardy, Pinot Ultras got off the team bus in unison. His family and personal friends were part of a party where everything was intimate. Hundreds of people sang and cheered for the pinot. His mother Marie-Jeanne had to wait more than 1 hour to finally hug him.

Even the team's staff and many teammates were there and emotional. After an 18-year career, Ladagnous, who retired earlier this week, became the soigneur of the day to pass the bidon to Pinot.

Pinot was emotional but happy. "Please come to the race and support the team next year. I will be with you," he said, a vividly applauded promise.

Team Manager Marcmadiot also asked Pinot fans to become Groupama-FDJ fans and "support all teams."

French fans are already looking for new heroes, and there are many, like Lenny Martinez, who wore the leader jersey at the Vuelta a Espana during his first World Tour season. Martinez was acclaimed among Pino teammates during his 90 minutes on the team bus, as in Pino's career, everyone who wishes the day ended

Pino's duty as a rider continues in Paris on Sunday after a series of television appearances and final interviews.

"On Monday morning I will take the free train to my house," he said the other day.

Pino plans to open a guest house with his girlfriend Charlotte in his home village of Merisey, in the Vosges region, where he was born and raised.

As a last souvenir of his last race, he was given a young goat named "Vittoria" by Il Lombardia race organizers RCS Sport.

"Vittoria" has already joined 60 or so animals of Pinot on his farm.

"They are all of me," he said. "You may miss cycling because only this sport can give you goosebumps. I have a lot of calm and quiet in my life. But I know I need a balance of coolness and excitement, a balance of cycling and the rest of my life as a former professional.”