Heat and crashes - Despite strong spring, Tom Pidcock reflects on missed opportunities at Giro d'Italia and Milano-Sanremo

Tom Pidcock has a successful change to Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, bringing in several victories in the opening month of the season and then riding to second at Strade Bianche behind only Tadej Pogacar. He's had perhaps his best ever start to the season, but laments a few moments of bad luck.

"It's been a long block, to be honest. Starting with a new team, you know it's always going to be difficult. I think the motivation was super high to start really well, which I did," Pidcock shared with Cyclingnews. A 6th at Tirreno-Adriatico, alongside Top10 in all the Ardennes (featuring a third place at Flèche Wallonne), cemented a successful spring.

"The big goal was Milano-Sanremo. I crashed there and was a bit unlucky. From there, I was holding on a bit, trying to keep the form I had. When you start so hot – even in January camp, I was really good – it's a long time to hold until now. But when you get an opportunity to ride the Giro, even if it's late notice, you give what you can".

At the Giro, he began without altitude camp as the other riders aiming for the overall classification, and with a very busy schedule all the way leading up to it's start. Hence ambitions would always have to be limited, but the Briton persisted in chase of a potential GC result - both for immediate and long-term development.

However the first dash of bad luck in the Giro itself came in the stage where he was the main favourite, as he crashed alongside Primoz Roglic in the sterrato and lost not only the chance to fight for the stage win but also a lot of time. "The Strade stage was the day, but it didn't go all to plan, some bad luck. I think when you're getting a bit tired and the decision that you make, you make your own luck".

It looked like there could be a minor result at play as he entered stage 19 in 13th spot, but on that day he completely cracked because of the head. "On the second climb, the group were going quite a lot faster. I just went for it, and the first time I went pretty hard, trying to get in that breakaway. It was the first day in the heat. I'm good in the heat when I'm prepared, but not when I'm not".

"I didn't really have the preparation. No altitude training or anything, and coming from the Ardennes races... it is very different to all the other GC guys. I mean, we only found out we were coming a few weeks before the race. It doesn't give us the best chance. But I can say I made the most of it," he concluded.