The Groupama-FDJ rider has been plagued by a back injury sustained in a crash at the Tour de France in 2020. Pinot fought on to finish the race and then attempted the Vuelta a Espana before his injuries forced him to call it quits.
The injury has limited Pinot’s time in the peloton this season with his plans to race the Giro D’Italia in May coming unstuck after difficult rides at Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour of the Alps.
The four-day Tour du Limousin will be his first race since April with the 31-year-old focusing on getting back to form in smaller races in his native France before he makes a full return to WorldTour events.
He'll follow up the Tour du Limousin with the four-day Tour du Poitou-Charentes before taking on three one-day races in early September – the Classic Grand Besançon Doubs, the Tour du Jura, and the Tour du Doubs.
It will be Pinot’s first season since 2011 that he has not raced in a Grand Tour.
Groupama-FDJ boss Marc Madiot said the plan was to take a patient approach with Pinot with the focus on next season.
"Right now, we’re trying to get back on our feet, but he has suffered the consequences for a long time. We shouldn’t have let him put himself in that state," Madiot said.
"I hope he will be able to race again in a normal way in the coming weeks or months. Once we’ve completed that stage, it’ll be time to focus on next season – on the Tour, Giro, or Vuelta.
"But first of all, he has to rediscover the full extent of his capacities, which is still not the case today. If we manage to do that, I have no doubts about the guy or his ability to get back to the top level.
