"He's a competitor and a world champion so of course you respect that and you wait" - Tom Pidcock explains his thoughts after Tadej Pogacar's Strade Bianche crash
CyclingSunday, 09 March 2025 at 10:43
Tom Pidcock said pre-race he'd try to follow Tadej Pogacar's inevitable attack at Strade Bianche and on Saturday afternoon in Tuscany the Brit gave it an almighty go. Despite the best efforts of the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team leader and even a scary crash for Pogacar at 50km to go though, victory eventually went the way of the all-conquering world champion.
"I'm quite tired to be honest," admits Pidcock with a wry smile when addressing the assembled media post-race. "I wanted to try and win, but I think I did a good performance let's be honest. I came pretty close."
As mentioned, a key flashpoint during the race was Pogacar's crash at 50km to go, an incident that momentarily left Pidcock solo in the race lead. "Let's be honest, it gave me a bit more of an opportunity. But he was still too strong with this last attack of his and yeah, I'm happy, but at the same time disappointed."
Despite ultimately missing out on the win, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic for Pidcock following this second place. "I don't think anyone else has followed Tadej yet this year! Okay, he's only done one race but also last year and the Tour de France," smiles the Brit. "So yeah, I'm happy. That's a good step. But of course, in the end he still attacked and rode off. So it's bittersweet."
"When he crashed I carried on, I didn't know what was happening," Pidcock continues, going into more detail on that crazy few kilometres. "But then he got back on the bike, looked like he was coming back and so, of course I waited. He's a competitor and a world champion so of course you respect that and you wait. He made a mistake and this is not how you take advantage in a race. Of course it was also a long way to go! So I didn't want to ride that far on my own."
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- I feel for Spain. Landa was one of their only two realistic GC hopes.Ride197410-05-2025
- Since the TT has a lot of sharp turns, does that perhaps play in Mads' favor, since he can sprint out of corners faster than many?Ride197410-05-2025
- The point of the article is well taken. Don’t judge a riders grand tour results after one stage. But he is slowly becoming a regular second.mij10-05-2025
- I’m disagreeing with the headline and tone of the article. I don’t even see Wout quoted. And he doesn’t offer excuses. My comment stands. He has no wins in his cobbled monuments. And is second too many times. And shouldn’t accept these results.mij10-05-2025
- Hey, Wout is one of the least excuse seeking riders out there, read the article again and let’s wait and see over the 3 weeks. Also a bad sign if you’re willing to give up on him faster than himself.Mistermaumau09-05-2025
- No more than Primoz at the TdFMistermaumau09-05-2025
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maria2024202409-05-2025 - It’s really a bad sign with a competitor is supposed to be happy with moral victories. Or when 2nd place is a positive sign to be happy about. Or “I’ve been ill”. I know he’s coming back from a lot of injuries. At some point the excuses need to end and “W’s” startmij09-05-2025
He attacked Pogi after he saw him crashed and then Connor Swift stopped for quit sometime. He slow when he can't take some more time and Pogi blitztering his pace like a mad man to catch Swift then drop him after and that's the time he realized he will NOT beat Pogi in all races even he crashed.
agreed you said it better than I did. it wasn’t some charitable sporting act. tadej had already basically closed the gap
Pure class and nice for him to wait. After Tadej shared some liquids earlier.
And besides Tadej took out that gap pretty instantly. No offense to Pidcock but he sat up at the top of a climb with the bridge over was obvious. And this is meant as no offense.
Pure class
I’m enjoying this version of Tom
Pidcock. He knows what he can do, he knows what he can’t. He knows who he is up against, and he started the proceedings at 80km and was right to do so. Today’s second was a great ride.