Tom Pidcock told a nice anecdote during his press chat on Thursday. In 2017 he won Paris-Roubaix for juniors. The following week he went to reconnoitre the Tour of Flanders, but he was released on every cobblestone climb.
“Then I hated those climbs,” laughed Pidcock (22). “But in the meantime I have grown into it. Of course I do not have the pure strength that other riders have. I am a light rider, but after a long race that can play to my advantage.”
In Dwars door Vlaanderen, Pidcock finished third on Wednesday. Does he consider himself one of the favorites for the Ronde? Last year he finished 41st.
“I don’t think I’m one of the top favorites. I do have a chance to win, but then I have to play it well, because I’m not the most experienced rider in the peloton in the classics. Although I already have one anyway number driven in the meantime. On the other hand, you also just know where the key moments are.”
After his performance in Dwars door Vlaanderen, the image of Tom Pidcock who had to let go in the peloton before the real final on the Poggio broke out during Milan-Sanremo. Pidcock will play a part on Sunday.
“My recent health situation must be a factor, because I haven’t had many long races in my legs yet. Wednesday I felt good. I was not great for a while, so what happened in Milan-Sanremo also happened. But I can can’t tell you exactly what was wrong.”
“Wednesday gave me a lot of confidence because of that performance. It was a hard race and not everything went perfectly in the final, but I was happy with my performance and with how the team drove,” said Pidcock.
“In Dwars door Vlaanderen I felt like my old self again. That is important and gives me confidence, but of course it is (almost) 100 kilometers more on Sunday.”
“If Wout van Aert does not ride, that will certainly have an influence. There will be one less rider in the final and the strength of Jumbo-Visma will also be different.”
