“I feel much better about it now” - Tom Pidcock on the aftermath of Milano-Sanremo second and Catalunya ambitions

Tom Pidcock heads to the Volta a Catalunya with renewed confidence after coming within a whisker of victory at the recent Milano–Sanremo, where only Tadej Pogacar beat him in a tight finish. The Briton, who delivered a standout performance, has turned the page in record time and tackles this new week of racing with ambition.

“I feel much better about it now,” explained Tom Pidcock before the start in Catalunya, speaking to Cycling Pro Net. “I think winning by such small margins, and also losing by such small margins, is what makes the times you win even better.” The Q36.5 rider played down the defeat, stressing the value of the process over the immediate result.

Pidcock also reflected on what a win in La Classicissima would have meant: “If I’d won, it would have been like never having been on the podium there and suddenly winning, a bit by chance. But now I’ve shown I’m strong enough to fight for the win, so in the future, if I can win, it will be more deserved.”

His form is one of the early season’s encouraging unknowns. After performing at a high level in races like Milano–Torino and Milano–Sanremo itself, the Briton arrives confident for a Volta with a stellar field, with names such as Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel as leading contenders for the overall.

“I think the start list is super strong. Obviously, I’ve got a good level of confidence, which is nice, so I think the race will be decided for everyone in the last days. It’s a hard finish,” he analysed. Pidcock made it clear his goal is to stay in contention until the decisive stages, where the general classification will take shape.

As for the opening stage, the Briton does not see himself as one of the prime candidates for the win. “I don’t think so. I think it’s more a stage for explosive riders. Maybe it would have been different with a tailwind on the coast, but with a headwind it will make the race a bit more defensive,” he concluded.