"I think that was kind of their problem last year..." - Tom Pidcock sees one big difference in UAE Team Emirates - XRG for Milano-Sanremo 2025
Cycling
Of all the men hoping to challenge Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel this Saturday at Milano-Sanremo, few head to Italy in better form than Q36.5 Pro Cycling team leader, Tom Pidcock. Whether or not that translates into a first ever Monument win for the Brit? We will find out this Saturday.
"I'm very much looking forward," assesses a smiling Pidcock in an interview with VTM Nieuws on the day prior to the action getting underway in Italy. "I think it is going to be a very nice race and yeah, I always look forward to coming here. It's one of the highlights of the year."
Although, as mentioned, Pidcock has been hitting top form since his move from the INEOS Grenadiers to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team in 2025, winning a Monument against contenders such as Pogacar and Van der Poel will require a massive ride from the Brit. When asked if he fancies an early attack, Pidcock replies with a laugh. "Where do you attack UAE from? Nowhere. I think for sure they'll want to make it a hard race, that's what suits Tadej. But it's also what suits me, so that's what I hope they do and I can benefit from that."
"I think they (UAE Team Emirates - XRG ed.) have a better suited team to this race this year," Pidcock analyses. "Especially Jhonatan Narvaez, I think he can play a really strong role and set a really high pace to set up an attack. I think that was kind of their problem last year, not really high enough pace for Tadej to make a difference, or anyone really."
Finally, Pidcock was asked who reaches the top of the Poggio first? "Mathieu (Van der Poel ed.)," he answers. Who reaches the bottom of the Poggio first? "Filippo Ganna." And lastly, who reaches the Via Roma first in the finale? "Me," Pidcock concludes firmly.
i realize that Tommy knows VOLUMES more about his craft than i do, and i realize he maybe wasn’t bothering to give the most highly thought out answers of all time here, BUT… if mathieu gets to the TOP of the poggio first, how exactly is it that GANNA gets to the BOTTOM ahead of him? maybe the “frame pump in the spokes” trick from Breaking Away? ganna isn’t exactly what you’d call a gifted descender, and i’ve noticed mvdp is a PRETTY DECENT bike handler at any speed, not too shabby at cornering and accelerating… I’m glad tom feels good, though. it’ll be a really fun race. (but if van der poel DOES get to the top first, it’s over.)
Exactly, my thought too. Ganna is multi-talented, but a great descender he is not. He was gapped and overtook on the descend by Pidcock last year.
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- Hey, guess what, someone proofread the title in the end :-) I guess they do read the commentsJumpyjohn24-03-2025
- Others beat him tooJumpyjohn24-03-2025
- Any source for that? Have never seen any quotes from her.Jumpyjohn24-03-2025
- that indicates the incredibly versatility of Tadej.
maria2024202424-03-2025 - IMHO, no. His calendar is conceptually the same, his attitude is the same, pre and post crash. About the passion, I understand you, but we have different perceptions.maria2024202424-03-2025
- My understanding is that Jonas mostly races for his wife, and she has said she would like him to hold all three grand tour titles in one year, a big goal.Hill3324-03-2025
- It’s still crazy that it takes both van der Poel and Vingegaard to be rivals to Pogacar.RidesHills24-03-2025
- Those races probably don't appeal to his abilities. If he's going to win another Tour he needs to focus on what works for him.awp24-03-2025
- I think cycling at this level must be a passion for whoever attempts it, I think Jonas is passionate about the sport, I think that bad crash from last year has made him a bit gun shy, but he'll recover from it. He wants to keep winning I'm sure.awp24-03-2025
- *stopvappaxbipmv23-03-2025