"Then the next best rider is less hard to beat" - Tom Pidcock anticipates an open Pogacar-less World Championships
Cycling
The 2026 World Championships are shaping up to be quite the exciting race. With the course "not too hard" and without the defending champion Tadej Pogacar, riders like Tom Pidcock suddenly wind up among serious podium—if not title—contenders.
And the 27-year-old Brit is in shape-as much is clear from his appearances in Canada this past week when he finished 4th at Grand Prix de Québec and 6th at Grand Prix de Montréal. Besides hefty 450 UCI points added to his team's account, it was a clear statement from Pidcock that he's ready for the race scheduled for September 27.
"I was up there; I was racing. It was definitely worth coming [to Canada]," Pidcock told Cycling Weekly after the Montréal Grand Prix.
"You don't need to be the strongest to win"
The absence of Pogacar, who is recovering from the fallback of his Vuelta crash, undeniably changes the dynamics at World Championships, as well as European Championships and Il Lombardia further down the road.
Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel at the 2026 Liêge-Bastogne-Liège
Previously, Pogacar's raw power was enough to win on the circuit in Canada twice (2022, 2024) regardless of any tactics. But Pidcock believes that the Slovenian is the only cyclist in the world who could pull off something of that sort. Not even Remco Evenepoel, who settled for 5th place in Montréal.
And if it comes to tactical games, the cunning Pidcock can hope to play his card as well. Just like we have seen him do times and times again in the mountain bike races.
"Probably, but I don’t think it’s the biggest chance in the world," he analyzed his own odds. "We’ll see: you don’t need to be the strongest to win the Worlds. Well, in the past [you did], maybe now it’s different."
The attention is now on Remco Evenepoel, Sunday winner Isaac del Toro, Paul Seixas, or Mathieu van der Poel. Pidcock is still able to fly a bit under the radar, but can he best the bigger pre-race favourites? "Tadej is the hardest rider to beat, and he’s not here. Then the next best rider is less hard to beat," Pidcock said earlier in the week.
"Del Toro and Seixas are the favourites"
Back to the test race on Sunday, Pidcock tried his own luck as well, but eventually it was the two youngsters Del Toro and Seixas who outwitted everyone else and fought each other for the title. For Pidcock, it was a good recon, though. Now he knows what he'd have done differently and also whom to keep an eye on.
"I attacked quite early a few times, probably earlier than other guys," Pidcock said. "You really need legs the last two laps on this course. But it didn’t make much difference: Seixas and Del Toro showed they were the strongest. I think they’re the favorites for the Worlds."
Read also
What is already quite clear to Pidcock is that the race won't be won "by accident" without having the corresponding level. Both physically and mentally. "It is going to be incredibly attritional," he added.
The race could unveil quite differently as compared to the WorldTour race. Partly due to the presence of national teams rather than the usual trade teams. "It could be a bit of a group behind, especially if the race is longer [273 kilometers in distance] – people won’t be able to make the difference with being explosive," Pidcock concludes.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
claps 3visitors 3
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- If you go watch some races from last season other riders that have never caught Jonas...are now catching him. Some are just riding away from him and he can't hold the wheelmd197514-11-2026
- He just doesn't have the desire anymore. I read an article earlier today that said he almost retired last year. His reasoning was he is away from home to much. Visma was able to keep him riding by allowing him to skip certain camps. So, while currently Visma is doing altitude work...Jonas is at home. Which means 2 things. 1- He maybe fresher than other riders. But, not the condition. 2-Is a somewhat slap in the face to others on the team that are supposed to help him win. Yet feel like he hasn't done what they have so perhaps they don't provide as good of protection or they ride more for theme (which the team may not notice).md197514-11-2026
- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
- Martinez had a good year! 5th at the Tour was a great result for him, albeit largely through getting in successful breaks, but he held it better than Pidcock who’d done the same.Lozza14-11-2026
- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment