Pidcock sets his sights on Pogacar and Vingegaard: the monstrous training ride he logged in Chile

Seven hours in the saddle, more than four thousand metres of elevation gain, and a round number that always commands respect: 200 kilometres. That’s how Tom Pidcock sums up his latest and most demanding training session, logged on Strava with barely a comment but loaded with meaning as he builds for the new season… with an eye on toppling Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard?

The Briton is training in Chile with his team, Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling, and over the past two weeks he has posted some striking days. None, however, matched the scale of yesterday’s ride, a bona fide queen stage disguised under the understated title "Morning Ride".

The ride started in the mountains, from the team’s training base, and headed west towards the flatter terrain north of Santiago de Chile. From there, the group turned back, a loop that became a relentless grind, with more than the final 80 kilometres climbing almost continuously to the hotel at 2,750 metres above sea level.

Pidcock did not ride alone. Alongside him were Fred Wright, one of his new teammates, as well as Fabio Christen, Xandro Meurisse and Quinten Hermans. Together they wrapped a day with 4,003 metres of climbing, seven hours of pedalling, and an average speed of 28.5 km/h, numbers worthy of a mountain stage in competition.

Beyond the data, the Briton chose not to add comments on the platform. Even so, the activity offered clear clues to the session’s intensity: several top-10s on various segments and, notably, multiple personal records. Five came on the final two climbs back to the hotel, suggesting the last effort was anything but easy.

This demanding training block is part of a 25-day camp in Chile, an unusual destination in the pro peloton, but one the team has publicly defended for its specific advantages.

Although it’s an altitude camp, it also serves as a powerful heat-acclimation tool, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees in the valley where they do the intervals.

"When you’re sheltered from the wind on the bike, it feels like an oven. Sweating is the norm," explained Xandro Meurisse to Het Laatste Nieuws previously. On top of the heat comes a UV index of 14, which forces riders to reapply SPF 50 sunscreen several times a day to avoid burns.

Despite the discomforts, the team believes the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Compared to traditional locations like Teide, where temperatures are around ten degrees lower, or Sierra Nevada, still affected by snow, Chile offers a different stimulus that is highly prized in modern preparation.

"These days, every professional cyclist does heat training as an additional stimulus to expose the body to extreme conditions," noted Quinten Hermans to the same outlet. "Many do it indoors, wearing extra layers on the turbo or in the sauna. Here, we simply do it outdoors, on the bike, in shorts and short sleeves."

With this work banked, Pidcock will open his season with several smaller Spanish races in mid-February, including the demanding Ruta del Sol, five days with a mountainous profile. Judging by what we’ve seen in Chile, the foundation looks more than solid.