Taking his first win of the season, Tom Pidcock triumphed in style on Sunday afternoon at the Amstel Gold Race. Sporza analyst Jose de Cauwer was left incredibly impressed by the INEOS Grenadiers superstar.
"Because the story of that photo finish always had a bit of a nagging feeling. That was never really cleared up. We assume that Van Aert was the winner at the time, but for Pidcock it always stung a bit," says the vastly experienced Belgian, referring to the controversial finale of the 2021 Amstel Gold Race where Wout van Aert was awarded the win, despite Pidcock seemingly crossing the line first in the photo finish. "But if you can ultimately win this way, then that's great."
De Cauwer also had warm words when reflecting on the wider success Pidcock has continually achieved throughout his career. "If we look at Pidcock's career: Olympic mountain bike champion, cyclo-cross world champion, many great victories on the road... This is another finishing touch," de Cauwer praises.
"It is three years to the day since Pidcock won his first road race: the Brabantse Pijl," adds de Cauwer's Sporza companion, Karl Vannieuwkerke. "Somewhat symbolic."
One man absent from the finale though, was world champion, Mathieu van der Poel. "No, but there was also Quinten Hermans' fall and Gianni Vermeersch's abandonment. That's two men less," de Cauwer explains of the quieter performance by Alpecin-Deceuninck. "Hermans was still able to return and did some of his work, but still. It was all just a little less."
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