"We probably underestimated Corbin Strong" - Tom Pidcock reacts to narrow GC defeat at Arctic Race of Norway 2025
Cycling
Tom Pidcock came within seconds of the overall victory at the 2025 Arctic Race of Norway, but after a tightly-contested final stage in the majestic northern landscapes, it was Israel – Premier Tech's Corbin Strong who stood atop the GC podium. The 25-year-old New Zealander displayed tactical poise and resilience to fend off a persistent Pidcock, whose late-race attempts to overhaul the deficit ultimately came up just short.
“It would have been nice to win,” reflected a candid Pidcock afterwards, content to settle for second place overall. “There was nothing more I could do today, because Israel was super strong and did a great job.”
The Brit had trimmed the GC gap to just five seconds after edging Strong in the intermediate sprint on the final stage, but despite his team’s aggressive tactics in the closing kilometres, the elusive time gap never opened. Pidcock waited, searched, and ultimately ran out of road.
“I was waiting for the right move, because I thought the difference would be made on the climbs — but the race was not long enough for that,” he explained. “We tried our luck in the final sprint, but my sprint was not perfect.”
With a parcours that offered no high mountain summit and a finale suited to puncheurs rather than pure climbers, Pidcock was forced to chase marginal gains — bonus seconds, late attacks, and tactical pressure. “In hindsight, I should have attacked earlier on yesterday’s climb,” he admitted, alluding to Stage 3’s missed opportunity despite the stage win. “But it’s easy to say that now.”
While the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team played an animated race — sending Marcel Camprubi up the road late on the final stage — Israel – Premier Tech controlled what mattered, with Pidcock admitting his team didn't expect Strong to be so strong. “We probably underestimated Corbin, who is an incredibly underrated rider,” Pidcock said. “The Arctic Race of Norway is a great event to be a part of.”
Though disappointed, Pidcock was gracious in defeat — acknowledging not just his rival’s ride, but also the nature of stage racing: moments missed are often more decisive than moments seized. For Q36.5 and Pidcock, the takeaways are mixed — promising form, sharp instincts, and a reminder that in tightly controlled races, hesitation can be costly.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- Pidcock finished 9th place, 29 minutes down. he is a helluva rider, so gutsy. and he is amazing at all disciplines. but this headline is . . .mij09-11-2026
- I know, watch the video. and listen to her competitors. it was a tricky tacky call at best. WTF is this guy talking about??? my original comment was from the picture it didn't look like anything.mij09-11-2026
- I dunno what you're talking about. you make no sense. MS's competitor and the competitors coach said it was BS. she didn't deviate in a way that relegation should be required. revel LOL. you're so cool, in your own mind.mij09-11-2026
- deviation lol, watch the videomij09-11-2026
- the 'No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines' comment was unfortunately a bit off. didn't you just boast about your principles in the comments section of another article?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- Are you MrMauMau 2.0? Nothing you are saying is really relevant. Vaguely connected, but irrelevant. The conversation is whether Schreiber impeded Brand or not.
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026
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