Pinot whacked his thigh on the bars trying to avoid a crash and tore a muscle. He then rode for two days with cramp-level pain before retiring. How does being French influence that in any way?
It wasn't something that can be legislated for, same as Bardet not being in the same form that he was last year.
Personally, I think the idea that the TdF must be closed to non-French riders so that 30+ years of sporting butthurt can be assuaged is pretty condescending towards Alaphillippe, Pinot, Bardet et al. It's basically implying that they can't win without the intervention of Monsieur Chauvin.
If that's the case, they might as well take up knitting or chess-boxing instead.
I can remember when French riders, Nicolas Vouilloz
1 and Anne-Caroline Chausson
2 in particular, were absolutely dominating downhill MTB racing - nobody argued that they must be blocked out to give the rest of the world a chance.
1 Vouilloz's palmarès:
World Cup Downhill Champion : 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000
Downhill Junior World Champion : 1992, 1993, 1994
Downhill World Champion : 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002
2 Chausson's DH palmarès:
World Cup downhill series winner: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Junior downhill World Champion: 1993, 1994, 1995
Senior downhill World Champion: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005