"It's a really difficult final to get right" - Gamble almost pays off for Tom Pidcock at Milano-Sanremo

INEOS Grenadiers started off Milano-Sanremo with a few cards to play, but they did not pay off. It was an unlucky finale for the British team, who saw Filippo Ganna being taken out of contention by a late mechanical, and Tom Pidcock being caught in sight of the line.

"I think it's a really difficult final to get right. Down the Poggio, it's difficult to be in the perfect position. And then it's also difficult to kind of be too far forward or too far back," Pidcock told Cyclingnews following the finale. The Briton rode through the Poggio in the first spots, and moved up during the descent of the Poggio. However he did not manage to attack there as he didn't have the space.

However he did attack, in perfect timing. He followed Matteo Sobrero's wheel and then attacked right after already in the final kilometer. It almost looked like the perfect plan, as he entered the final straight in front solo. He played his cards right but there was too much firepower behind an he couldn't hold his advantage.

"In this scenario, it didn't really work out what I did. But maybe in another year, then I could win," he concluded. "I didn't really plan on anything you know, in this final you just have to go with the instincts and that's kind of the best thing I can do. This is the only second one I finished. It's a beautiful race and certainly one I want to try and win." In the end, Pidcock rode to 11th place.