"He has proven that he can compete with the greats" - Tom Pidcock's coach confident Brit can fight for Liege-Bastogne-Liege victory

After his stunning triumph last weekend at the Amstel Gold Race, confidence is understandably high in Tom Pidcock's camp ahead of the upcoming monumental battle at Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

According to Pidcock's coach, Kurt Bogaerts, the INEOS Grenadiers leader must be considered a viable contender to compete for victory against the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar among others in Liege. "Tom is mature enough to keep the focus on La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège," said the 46-year-old in conversation with HLN. "If he recovers well from the Amstel, he should have the legs to ride the final twice."

After a disappointing La Fleche Wallonne last year followed by a runner-up finish at Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2023, Pidcock is even better placed to battle for victory this time around. "Last year we were behind, after a fall and a concussion in the Tirreno-Adriatico," says Bogaerts. "Now he has a big victory under his belt. That does make it easier."

"Over the past four years he has always won a major race, he has proven that he can compete with the greats," Bogaerts concludes defiantly. "If you believed what you read, Mathieu would have won the Amstel even before he had ridden. That didn't happen. They're just people. Everyone has to ride the race. On Wednesday it will be a matter of good positioning. In Liège he will try to beat Pogacar and Van der Poel, as he has done in the past."