Tom Pidcock on Omloop Het Nieuwsblad performance: "I was surprised with my shape"

Tom Pidcock is set to be one of the leaders for INEOS Grenadiers at both cobbled and hilly classics this spring and he has started off his campaign with a decent performance at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but one that definitely came as a positive surprise for the Briton shortly after taking a break this month.

“I was going really well today, and I was surprised with my shape. Now just the head needs to be in the right place," Pidcock said after the finish. After taking a break post-CX season where he became world champion in Fayetteville, the Briton returned to competition last week at the Volta ao Algarve where it was evident that his form still needs to be worked on in time for his main goals.

However, with 29 kilometers to go when Tiesj Benoot launched the first of Jumbo-Visma's decisive attacks, Pidcock was on the wheel and part of the five rider group who briefly escaped the peloton: "When we went on the Berendries, on Tiesj’s wheel that was hard but that was hard for everyone. It was hard but there were good signs. I’m happy.”

“I was good. When Wout went I was a little bit apprehensive. That climb doesn’t exactly suit me, that one. I thought that I’d wait and then try and follow everyone else. Then Wout was gone, and in a group of that size, he wasn’t going to come back. There was a bit of crosswind so it was ideal. Wout went at a good time because at that point everyone was thinking about the Bosberg and he went before. Everyone was a bit surprised by that.” After van Aert's attack with 14 kilometers to go Pidcock stayed in the chasing group, but didn't go on to chase the best position possible.

“We have a young team and there’s quite a lot of learning to do but we have a good team to build on. I wasn’t really with it today, I was late to the start and didn’t feel prepared or relaxed enough but I feel more comfortable on the cobbled climbs than I did last year," Pidcock concluded.

Pidcock finished 18th after letting go of the chasing group in the final meters, he is having a very long spring ahead with Strade Bianche, Milano-Sanremo, Tour des Flandres and Liège-Bastogne-Liège all in his schedule which includes a lot more one-day races where he can get a strong result, before immediately switching his focus to the Giro d'Italia where he should be riding in support of Richard Carapaz.