"The hardest one I've done" - Tom Pidcock's honest MTB warning despite emphatic Nové Město win

Tom Pidcock made it five wins in a row at the demanding Nové Město Mountain-bike World Cup round on Sunday, stamping his authority in the second lap to take an emphatic win, delivering a flawless solo performance to finish well ahead of French rider Luca Martin and Switzerland's Filippo Colombo.

The British rider has enjoyed a promising season on the road, and looked better than ever off the road as he matched the historic record of five elite victories held by Swiss mountain bike legend Nino Schurter at the Czech course.

The Olympic champion was reported to be facing Mathieu van der Poel, but the Dutchman didn't participate as earlier announcements that he would take to the line were denied by his Alpecin - Premier Tech team. And as Pidcock reacted after the race, he appeared to send a warning to van der Poel of the increasing standard in the discipline.

“I think that was the hardest one I’ve done,” Pidcock said to his team after the race. “I didn’t make it easy for myself. I had a really good start and was probably a bit too keen in the opening laps.”

With Pidcock repeatedly forced to up the tempo to ensure he held a healthy lead over Martin and the chasing pack, the Pinarello–Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team star admitted he's kept on his toes by the increasing standard within the sport.

“Luca was pushing me all the way,” he said. “He kept coming close and I had to kick again a few times. My fitness is good, but when I haven't done many races, I need to be a bit more cautious than perhaps in another part of the season.

He added: "The level of the sport keeps getting higher and higher. It keeps me on my toes because I can't rest on my laurels.”