Pidcock beats World Champion

Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel played the leading roles in the Superprestige cyclocross in Gavere. The British rider Pidcock beat the world champion and was speechless afterwards.

Pidcock beats World Champion

Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel played the leading roles in the Superprestige cyclocross in Gavere. The British rider Pidcock beat the world champion and was speechless afterwards. “I trained very hard and that is now paying off. Van der Poel showed himself to be a very sporting loser.” said to Tom to Sporza.

Pic: Getty Images

“To be honest, I don’t know what to say,” added Pidcock. “I think I grew up today. In recent years I was a bad starter, I have worked hard on that. If I can do a good first lap, without having to go into the red, then I have a lot more left at the finish. I worked hard and it pays off now.”

“I am getting stronger every race. After Tabor (Pidcock only finished 21st) I said to myself: nobody will remember this if you perform well afterwards. Hopefully everyone can forget that race now. Next week Namur is on the program. I train specifically for those climbing races, so I’m ready. ”

Meanwhile, the rider wearing the rainbow stripes, Mathieu van der Poel said of his race, “I did a good race, but someone was better”. Anyone who had expected a disappointed Van der Poel at the finish, would themselves be disappointed. “I am satisfied” said the World Champion. Of course I would have preferred two out of two wins but I am certainly at peace with this.”

“Pidcock was very strong. He was quite impressive, especially on the running pieces. I had to go deep to follow. Second was the highest possible. Yesterday I never had the feeling that I was on the limit, today I often had the feeling that it was no longer possible to go faster when I was on his wheel. I was suffering and grimacing. Hopefully it will bring me to a better form. I rode a good race, but one person was better. I can’t always win everything. Overall, I’m very satisfied with my first weekend in the cross.”

In the race, Britain’s Thomas Mein was 9th and Ben Turner 13. In the Women’s race, Lucinda Brand won with Anna Kay in 12th and Evie Richards 14th. Amira Mellor was 30th, Abby-Mae Parkinson 33rd, Sophie Wright 41st and Laura Greenhalgh 49th

See the full results here: https://twitter.com/cyclocross24