"Tadej Pogacar was on another level today" - Tom Pidcock puts in career-best performance on the Mur de Huy to claim La Fleche Wallonne podium

After a couple of quiet performances at Brabantse Pijl and the Amstel Gold Race, Tom Pidcock was right back in the mix for the win on Wednesday afternoon at La Fleche Wallonne 2025. Although Tadej Pogacar was a dominant winner, Pidcock put in a career-best performance on the Mur de Huy behind to finish on the final podium in 3rd.

In the past, Pidcock had twice DNF'd La Fleche Wallonne, with a 6th placed effort from back in 2021 his best previous effort. "I think definitely today was better," he said in a post-race interview with Cycling Pro Net at the finish line, content with his 2025 ride in comparison to previous participations. "I was struggling in the cold, and I'm still pretty cold, so I can be happy with that, to be honest."

With the Mur de Huy such a notoriously brutal way to finish a race, Pidcock, like many others, attempted to bide his time before making any attacks. "I think it was important not to go too early. I was struggling to change gears at the bottom when I was in the little ring, but maybe I should've stayed in the little ring, and it would've helped a bit," he reflected. "In the end, I did a pretty good climb. I felt quite good. I think if I did it differently, I could've gone a bit faster, but I think Tadej was on another level today."

Nevertheless, a podium finish gives reason for optimism ahead of this Sunday's Monument battle at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. "It's always been a race everyone says suited me, but I've always struggled. So, today it's nice to be on the podium," concludes the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team leader. "I've put in some hard work in the last weeks. Maybe I didn't have the level I wanted in the last races, so I think it's nice to stand on the podium, and it gives me some confidence going to the big one on Sunday."