"in this case, it was a management decision" - INEOS DS reacts to Tom Pidcock's Lombardia 'de-selection'

Tom Pidcock and INEOS Grenadiers are grabbing headliners all over the cycling world right now as a premature separation looks imminent. Pidcock was removed from the selection for Il Lombardia with no reason being given, and at the start of the Italian race the team DS confirmed this was a decision of the team management.

"I mean, these are Tom's words. Obviously, I'm not stupid - it does look strange, but, the reality is that the team has the right to select the team they feel fits it," team DS Zak Dempster told Cyclingnews this morning in Bergamo. "That's all the information I have at the moment. it was a management decision on the final team, that's their right and here we are without Tom. We have a process in place where we have a long list of riders and then those final seven names that go on the list - it can be a performance decision, and in this case, it was a management decision".

Dempster looked displeased at the situation, specially as it literally harms the team's chances of netting a result this Saturday. Pidcock was second at the Giro dell'Emilia and finally looked in good form for the first time since the Tour de Suisse when it comes to the road. The team started the race without a true leader and the removal of Pidcock from the startlist could only be motivated by personal reasons, not performance wise.

"Obviously, I read the press too, you know? And it's a strange occurrence before a Monument. I don't have any more information, so it's really difficult for me to comment," Dempster added. "My job on the ground is to get the best out of these kids and put them on their bikes and try and get them to the finish line first, and Tom's not part of that selection today."