Tom Pidcock is having a packed spring schedule but this will be focused around the Ardennes classics. The INEOS Grenadiers rider is however at the start of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and is looking forward to what should be a very explosive race.
"This race is always early in the year, it's cold, a lot of us have been away in one place training so you can't really predict how you'll feel on a day like today," Pidcock told Eurosport this morning. "I think I'm in good shape, as you said put in a lot of work, today is just the first test, my mind is on things in a few weeks. I wanna be able to give it a good hit-out today no regrets." Pidcock has nothing to lose into today's race and could be among the main rivals of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, taking into account his explosivity in the short steep ascents.
After strong performances at the Volta ao Algarve, he is looking to perform here as well. INEOS hasn't had the ideal run-up to the race however. "We've got a bit of sickness in the team so we had to pull in a few riders last minute that was not ideal, I think that's going to make it a bit more tricky," he tells. "For sure we've got some good guys, some good experience, and some guys who can cover the early moves certainly there will be."
As most other riders, he expects action to kick off early, specially due to the fact that Visma has many strong riders that can make the difference. "These climbs in the final you know they will play an important role. Last year Dylan [van Baarle] went super far out. Also maybe the fact that it's a bit of a headwind between sectors near the final is gonna make it a bit more negative. But the final 20-odd kilometers with cross-tailwind, when a group is away it can go far," he concludes.
