Serge Pauwels impressed by Tom Pidcock: "Maybe he can surprise us in two weeks and be on the podium in Paris"

Tom Pidcock has been quietly going about his business so far at the Tour de France. In his first real general classification ride, the 23-year-old has been there or thereabouts throughout and currently sits in 8th. ex-pro Serge Pauwels has been impressed.

"Pidcock has not often said things that he does not live up to or that he does not support," says the former Giro d'Italia stage winner, Pauwels to Sporza as part of his role as an analyst. "He knows very well what his career planning is. We haven't seen him much in the picture yet, but he is there. Top ten riding in the Tour is not for everyone."

5:26 down on the overall race leader Jonas Vingegaard, it's fair to say that barring something incredible, the Maillot Jaune is out of reach for Pidcock. Just 2:46 off Jai Hindley and the podium though, and having put time into the Australian on the first summit finish of the race at the Puy de Dome, that third spot on the podium in Paris is up for grabs for the INEOS Grenadiers rider.

"I expect that next year or the year after that he will go to the Tour with real classification ambitions as the only leader at INEOS Grenadiers. Then I will see him on the podium. Winning with Pogacar and Vingegaard is not easy," says Pauwels. "Maybe he can surprise us in two weeks and be on the podium in Paris. Everything is still possible between positions 3 and 12."