News: Pidcock Back on the Road

World Junior Men’s Cyclo-Cross Champion Tom Pidcock back on the road after a winter in ‘cross

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News: Pidcock Back on the Road

World Junior Men’s Cyclo-Cross Champion Tom Pidcock back on the road after a winter in ‘cross.

Last weekend, showing yet again flashes of brilliance in the Guido Reybrouck Classic where he was fifth despite some problems, Tom Pidcock is getting back in form ahead of some major junior races such Gent Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix.

At the start of the month, Tom was fourth in the Eddie Soens, sprinting against the likes of Ed Clancy and Jon Mould in race he said was fun to do with no pressure.

Tom has been the subject of lots of speculation as to who he will be riding for in the future but for now, he confirmed that for the summer, he’s racing for PH-MAS/Paul Milnes/Oldfield as a junior. As for next winter, nothing was decided when we spoke at Eddie Soens but Tom does admit, being the subject of such speculation is something he will have to get used to.

Leading the break at the Eddie Soens at the start of the month

“It is a new thing to deal with and some times is quite difficult. Whilst I don’t think it’s getting to me, at times, it is. I just have to get used to it.” Whilst the team he rides for next winter is yet to be decided, he knows he’ll have to step up a level as he goes into the senior ranks adding that he does want to race the road at World Tour level but that may change.”

Asked whether he’s had a break following a busy winter, he says “Sort of. I did have time off the bike but mentally I don’t think I’ve rested but I just want to race my bike. I’m not in flying form yet though as I was swinging a fair bit at the weekend!”

Prior to the Guido Reybrouck Classic, he and the team from the South East with John Barclay he was riding with, rode some of the course which he says was pretty flat and not very technical, one that didn’t really play to his strengths. Early in the race, he explained how he spent it either on the front or chasing back on after his crash (50km) and puncture (30km). “We were just ducking and diving” he added.

The key moment he says was “with about 55 km to go, there was a break up the road with about 40 seconds which I thought was the winning move so me and a Dutch rider went across. That was the hardest part of the race”.

Having won the World Cyclo-Cross title, Tom is also finding he is a marked man! “Definitely, everyone knows who I am now so I have to play my cards right more than I have before”.

In the finale of the race, his teammate Jacob Vaughan clipped off the front (going on to win the race), with another rider whilst Tom played teammate in a small group of four, ending the race in 5th place after leaving his fearsome sprint a little late on the cobbles and running out of time to get round the others.

Next weekend is Gent Wevelgem, so good luck to Tom and the other British riders …

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