"If I can battle with Tadej for a little or for a long time, that's a positive" - Tom Pidcock on Pogacar and Strade Bianche
Cycling
Tom Pidcock is a former winner of Strade Bianche and, last year, the only man who could give Tadej Pogacar a challenge. At his very best level, the Briton can be a threat; but that will also depend on the World Champion not having his best legs on the day.
An off-road specialist (Pidcock is a two-time MTB World Champion and former cyclocross World Champion) and an explosive lightweight rider by nature; Strade Bianche is simply a perfect fit for the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team rider. Not only does he have the capacity to ride the countless short explosive efforts that are required of a race with so many climbs and narrow roads; but he also has the required bike handling to efficiently move through the sterrato sectors.
It is simply a perfect match and last year, he took the race to Pogacar. In the end, even with a crash, the Slovenian could not be stopped; but there is no reason for Pidcock to not attempt to do the same this time around. However, he is also aware that UAE come with a team that is perhaps even stronger - this, despite the absence of last year's third place Tim Wellens - as Isaac del Toro will be at the start line.
Stronger competition in 2026
"I think the field is perhaps a little bit stronger than last year. We'll see how Decathlon play it, while we know how UAE will play it," Pidcock said at the team presentation this Friday afternoon in Siena. "They don't need to be too secretive about their tactics. It's going to be an interesting race."
"I'm always good here just because it's one of my favourite races, I love the race so much, so I want to perform," he admits. He is amongst the big favourites and after his performances in the Spanish block of racing he had early in the season, there is good reason to believe he will be up there.
"Obviously, we want to try and win, but we obviously know how hard that's going to be, how ambitious that is," the Briton adds. "If I can battle with Tadej for a little or for a long time, that's a positive. If I end up on the podium, that'd be a good result."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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