Tom Pidcock knows there's only one way to win Strade Bianche: "If Tadej attacks, I will try to follow him"

Tomorrow's Strade Bianche will have one and only one overwhelming favourite - Tadej Pogacar. Anyone who doubts the World champion's position after last year's 80 km solo victory is either a prediction genius, or simply delusional. Against the odds, few brave men will try to take on the Slovenian. One of them is Tom Pidcock.

"How to beat Pogacar? By being ahead of him at the line," laughs the 25-year-old Brit, Sporza reports. Easier said than done. However if anyone can turn the tides and upset the UAE Emirates rider, then why not Pidcock?

The Brit has been in a seemingly very good form in the early months of this season when he dominated at the AlUla Tour. A result he later followed up with overall podium and a stage win at Vuelta a Andalucia. Omloop hasn't gone well, but tomorrow is a new day.

Not even Pidcock dares to draw a bullet-proof strategy to counter Pogacar. After all - if he's on a good day, he probably cannot be stopped without a literal army. "Tadej is of course Tadej. We know how strong he is. If Tadej attacks, I will try to follow him. Because my goal tomorrow is to win."

Pidcock, who won the Strade Bianche two years ago, is hanging onto a gut feeling that Saturday will be a great day: "In training I didn't feel too good this week. That's usually a good sign for the weekend," he grins. As will be the case through most of this season, Q36.5 Pro Cycling put all faith in their star signing.

The support crew around Pidcock includes fellow mountain biker Milan Vader, young Fabio Christen, or experienced riders such as Gianluca Brambilla and Mark Donovan. Whether it's enough manpower to challenge Pogacar's armada with Isaac Del Toro, Felix Großschartner, Gianni Vermeersch and Tim Wellens? We shall find out on Saturday.