"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

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.