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"
Cycling
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.
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⚡ POGI GOES WILD!
— Strade Bianche (@StradeBianche) March 8, 2025
Huge attack by Pogi and Tom Pidcock cannot follow the World Champion!
🌈 The rainbow jersey is on his way to win in Piazza del Campo#StradeBianche @CA_Ita pic.twitter.com/w1GJnaXfkB
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
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