“It’s not ideal, but it’s certainly not impossible” - Tom Pidcock’s coach explains unconventional build-up to Milano-Sanremo
Cycling
For Tom Pidcock, the road to Milano-Sanremo is not following the usual script. While many of the riders targeting the season’s first Monument traditionally arrive via Tirreno-Adriatico or Paris-Nice, the British rider has opted for a different build-up this spring. The decision reflects a wider approach within the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, where race programmes are increasingly shaped around specific objectives rather than long-standing peloton habits.
“Many riders still do it, but if you constantly keep doing the same thing or simply follow others, that is not necessarily good,” Kurt Bogaerts explained in conversation with Wielerflits. “Tom doesn’t mind riding the same races every year, but that mainly applies to the Monuments. Around those races, we look at where it’s possible to try something different.”
The Strade Bianche factor
After finishing seventh at Strade Bianche, where mechanical issues disrupted his chances of repeating last year’s runner-up performance, Pidcock now turns his attention to Milan-Sanremo.
The race’s position in the calendar is also one of the reasons behind the team’s unusual programme, according to Bogaerts. “Tirreno starts shortly after Strade Bianche, and combining it with Paris-Nice is even more difficult,” he said. “After such a tough race, you always see a bit of a release among riders. You carry that feeling into the stage race that follows.”
“It’s impossible to start another race feeling completely fresh after a race like Strade," added Bogaerts. "You feel it in your legs, and that already makes the first opportunities more difficult.”
Catalunya instead of Tirreno
Instead of heading to Tirreno-Adriatico, Pidcock will race the Volta a Catalunya, which begins two days after Milano-Sanremo.
At first glance, that schedule may appear just as demanding, but Bogaerts sees a fundamental difference between the two races. “That’s true, but in my opinion Milano-Sanremo is less demanding than Strade Bianche,” he said. “Strade is about 200 kilometres at full intensity, while Sanremo is longer but has a more compact finale. It’s not ideal, but it’s certainly not impossible.”
Looking beyond Sanremo
The Catalan stage race also plays a role in the wider shape of Pidcock’s season. Following his podium at the Vuelta a España last year, the British rider’s ambitions increasingly extend beyond one-day racing, and longer climbs are expected to play a role in his development as the year progresses.
“In terms of his ambitions in the Tour de France, Catalunya is a race where much longer climbs appear,” Bogaerts said. “It’s not that we specifically want to see where he stands in the mountains, but it’s a good exercise to maintain the climbing aspect. It’s not really a goal in itself, but more something that fits into what comes next.”
Building towards the Ardennes
That next phase of the season centres on the Ardennes classics: Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Pidcock’s explosive climbing ability has long made those races natural targets, and Bogaerts believes the additional climbing work from Catalunya can sharpen that strength further.
“Tom already has the explosiveness. His numbers over five minutes are very good,” he said. “But racing Catalunya can also make you stronger between the climbs. Classics open earlier and earlier now. If you climb better, you fatigue less quickly, and you can maintain your punch much more easily.”
For Pidcock, the route to Milan-Sanremo may look unconventional on paper. But within his team, the belief is simple: preparation does not have to follow the peloton’s traditions to produce the right result.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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