"I can’t say I’m proud of my performance in Fleche" - Tom Pidcock hoping to bounce back with first monument win at Liege-Bastogne-Liege

Tom Pidcock has had something of a mixed time of things in the Ardennes this year. After his stunning victory at the Amstel Gold Race, the Brit was an early withdrawal at La Fleche Wallonne, a victim of the apocalyptic weather conditions.

“Well I’ve certainly warmed up, I can’t say I’m proud of my performance in Fleche, there were definitely better men out there than me that day, but I got so cold it was impossible to think about the bike race anymore," reflected the INEOS Grenadiers star ahead of Liege-Bastogne-Liege this weekend, with quotes collected by GCN. "At that point, it was better to be safe than sorry.”

Despite that disappointment, Pidcock remains optimistic about his hopes for victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege and is especially confident about his form following his Amstel Gold Race triumph. “This is a real favourite race of mine. I’m looking forward to the challenge and suffering. I know how hard it will be but I’m ready for that," the Brit insists.

“I think last year I raced super well,” Pidcock recalls of his second-placed finish in Liege twelve months ago. “Tactically and also physically, I got the most out of what I had in the locker, so I can be proud of that. Of course, a podium at a monument is fantastic but I really want to chase my first monument win and that’s what I try to do every time I start one now.”