With the likes of
Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel joining Pidcock on the startline in Liege, it's likely the race is going to explode early. As such, Pidcock has to be prepared for the early opening of the race-winning fight. "I think as soon as we turn from Bastogne, the race will just get faster and faster. La Redoute is the place the race will happen," he predicts. "But you never know. Maybe it will be somewhere else this year. Even earlier."
In terms of his own tactics, Pidcock is slightly reserved. "I don't think there's many cards to play. If you get a gap, if you go early, or you're allowed to... you'll need at least a minute before the descent to La Redoute because you'll lose 60 seconds there and on the climb even more," he says with a wry smile. "So I don't think there is much you're able to do except try and race when the race goes, and follow as best you can."
Pidcock is also well aware of the threat of Pogacar. "Look, we know how incredible he is. Everyone's outlook on races has changed a little bit because we're dealing with the next
Eddy Merckx. So sometimes you can be happy with second," Pidcock concludes. "But that's not my mentality. We'll try to win. In Strade I wasn't close, but I was fairly close. It's not all over before we start."