Tom Pidcock does believe Strade Bianche is still within reach of classics specialists: "If Mathieu and Wout are at the start, they’re racing to win"

Last year the Strade Bianche course became tougher and with an added lap of 30 kilometers and 700 climbing meters, the climbers have slightly benefited from this. Many argue the classics specialists have more difficulty fighting for the win now, but Tom Pidcock believes his two big rivals would still be able to fight for the win in the same way.

At the Tirreno-Adriatico press conference, the Italian race was always going to be a topic to be discussed, as Pidcock and van der Poel were amongst those sitting down. Pidcock soared to a strong second place only behind Tadej Pogacar.

Mathieu van der Poel did not ride, and was also clear that he does not regret the decision in any way: "Strade has changed compared to a few years ago when I won it. It has now become a real climbing race. That's why I found it harder to miss the Belgian opening weekend than Strade Bianche."

However the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team rider disagrees that a rider like van der Poel can't win the race anymore. "I think if Mathieu and Wout [van Aert] are at the start, they’re racing to win. But the course is different now. The natural moment when the race opens is now 80 kilometers from the finish. That makes it more about endurance and nutrition, and less about that explosive factor."

The Briton experienced this himself, but despite this managed to ride a formidable race and be the only one to match Tadej Pogacar's early attack. He puts emphasis on the race's uniqueness rather than the climbing meters on the route. "There’s more climbing, but it’s not Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Strade Bianche is full of gravel, and that requires different qualities".

As he aims for Milano-Sanremo as well, Pidcock finds himself in Tirreno-Adriatico looking to potentially snatch a stage win in one of the hilly stages and even possible fighting for the overall classification, as he did one year ago.