"My hands still hurt!" - Tom Pidcock feeling affects of Paris-Roubaix plays down Amstel Gold Race chances

After making a surprise return to racing at Paris-Roubaix last Sunday, Tom Pidcock is still feeling the effects of the French cobbles as he prepares for Amstel Gold Race this weekend.

Twice a podium finisher at Amstel Gold Race, Pidcock finished third last year. Playing coy on his hopes in 2024 however, the Brit reveals he's still having Paris-Roubaix-related issues. "My hands still hurt!" Pidcock laments in quotes collected by Het Nieuwsblad. "I think it's a lesson that you can't just take part in Paris-Roubaix, that you even have to prepare your hands," he laughs. 

Far from the only rider whose hands were left battered and bloodied after the race, Pidcock admits he was surprised by the fact he was so affected. "Normally I don't have problems with this kind of thing, but I didn't ride my mountain bike or participate in the other 'Cobbled Classics', so my hands are a bit softer these days," he looks to explain.

"Amstel is a great race and I love riding there, so I hope to perform better this time," Pidcock concludes, referring to his aforementioned 3rd place from twelve months ago. "The Ardennes were a big goal of mine from the beginning of the year, so I'm really looking forward to going there with the team. This is always a really fun time of year."