"Second place again is bittersweet" - After Pogacar, Tom Pidcock loses Giro dell'Emilia to Isaac del Toro

Tom Pidcock has ridden a very active race today at the Giro dell'Emilia and was trying to obtain the biggest victory of his season. He was close but for a second year in a row, the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team rider has been defeated by a UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider in one of the races that suit him best.

After a stellar performance at the Arctic Race of Norway, a breakthrough podium place at the Vuelta a España and a Top10 spot at the World Championships, the Briton continues a great run of form. In Kigali he struggled with the brutality of the race but this Saturday in Bologna he was not only recovered from the massive effort and trip back to Europe, but also at a level that was perhaps higher.

In the Italian classic he did not find much support once the race exploded in the many ascents of the Madona di San Luca, but the Briton was alive to the occasion. On the second-to-last lap he was part of the head group as Adam Yates attacked, and in the penultimate he closed down the attack of Cian Uijtdebroeks and Lenny Martínez on the steep climb. The small group headed into the hilltop finish with about a dozen riders and Pidcock opted to attack right at the base. It's a hard climb to pace, so he could make the difference right away, but then in the steepest ramps of the climb he saw Isaac del Toro come back to the front.

It seemed evident that the Mexican had better legs at that point in the race, and with an anticipated sprint from behind, del Toro sprinted to victory, leaving a disappointed Pidcock behind. “I’m happy to be feeling good again after La Vuelta," he said in a post-race interview. "Getting second place again is bittersweet, but it’s always positive to be on the podium and a good way to start the final week of the season!”