"I think it's the biggest opportunity" - Tom Pidcock determined to make World Championships move in Montreal as open race expected
Cycling
Tom Pidcock hopes to float like a butterfly over the Montreal circuit and sting like a bee at the finish line as he aims to win his first World Championships on the road on Sunday, starting the elite men's road race as he leads the Great Britain challenge.
The multi-discipline world champion has worn the rainbow jersey in cyclocross and mountain-bike and finds himself with a big opportunity in Canada in what is expected to be an open race.
But in the lead-up to the race, he found himself nursing an unusual injury after a training incident saw him stung by a bee, causing major swelling to his lip. But as he spoke to media on the morning of the 273-kilometre race, the Pinarello rider is ready to roll.
"No, it was fine," he told CyclingProNet at the start of the day.
"Very painful initially, it was a bit of a surprise. I was almost back, and yeah, stood by the side of the road, massaging my face for a bit. But no, no, it was fine."
Tom Pidcock shared the picture on Instagram
Golden opportunity for Pidcock?
With no Tadej Pogacar at the start line, many riders and nations sense a golden opportunity as Pidcock warned that an aggressive approach from many will also make it less straight forward.
"I think it's the biggest opportunity, yeah. Having said that, it's not easy. We know how many people there are that could win today, so [I am, Ed.] going to give it a shot. The legs will do the talking, I think. Simple as that really."
"I think we've actually come together quite well and talked about it quite a lot. So yeah, we're definitely in a good team spirit. I think we're going to ride quite well together today."
Previewing the race, the Briton fancies Paul Seixas and Isaac del Toro to have a big influence on the race, but also noted how the circuit favours Remco Evenepoel.
Pidcock thinks Seixas and del Toro need to be watched
"I think the two stand-out guys are Seixas and Del Toro," Pidcock said ahead of the weekend in an earlier interview.
"I think Remco will for sure be good, and he's always the guy that, like you saw in [the GP de] Montreal, I don't know what happened, but he got dropped on the climb, and then he came back because he can keep going.
"That will definitely be in his favour. But I think the two stand-outs are Del Toro and Seixas. I think they're the guys who can make the difference on the climb more than the rest of us."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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