04/03/2023

Long solo attack "really not the plan" for Tom Pidcock who scores biggest pro victory on the road at Strade Bianche

It was no surprise that Tom Pidcock had the legs to win Strade Bianche, but that took nothing from the INEOS Grenadiers rider who went clear close the same location as Tadej Pogacar had in 2022 en route to a massive victory.

“It was really not the plan to start such a long solo. I knew that the Monte Sante Marie was a decisive point in the race. I managed to make a gap in the descent and then continued," Pidcock said in a post-race interview. The race had been calm until then when it comes to Strade Bianche standards, but at Monte Sante Marie Alberto Bettiol attacked.

Tom Pidcock soars to solo Strade Bianche victory, Madouas and Benoot join in podium

Pidcock was one of the two riders to respond, with the peloton remaining in a standstill. Pidcock quickly went off alone as the peloton then blew up due to the difficulty of the sector, but the gap that had grown was already decisive.

“Honestly, this week the feeling was already good. I knew then that something good was going to happen. I knew it would be my day. It's really unbelievable that it worked. It is indescribable," he continued. Pidcock caught up and dropped the last survivors of the breakaway and kept riding alone without a single turn whilst his rivals constantly battled through the final sectors and rolling sections.

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This lack of collaboration was what saved Pidcock however. "The pursuers came close and then I thought for a moment: I've messed it up. Only, we rode a high pace all day and it is difficult to close a gap," he had thought. Coming to the Via Santa Caterina the victory was assured. The Briton capitalized on a brilliant day where his climbing and descending skills were both crucial to victory.

A former Cyclocross World Champion, Mountain Bike Olympic Champion and Tour de France stage winner, he now adds Strade Bianche to his palmares. Arguably, the most prestigious and also impressive victory of his career on the road. I saw this season that riders in the race already benefited from the bikes, but that was not the case today. I had hoped for it," he concluded.