"We'll definitely be in the running” - Team GB optimistic Tom Pidcock can double up at 2024 Paris Olympic Games in men's road race
Cycling
Tom Pidcock successfully defended his Olympic title in the men's mountain bike on Monday afternoon in Paris, putting in a performance that will be remembered for a long while in the process. Could things get even better for the Brit though? A potential second gold of this Olympic Games could lie in wait in the road race.
“Tom has to enjoy the moment. He was massively focused on this race and it emotionally, and physically, takes a lot out of you,” says Great Britain's Performance Director Stephen Parks in quotes collected by Cycling News. "Being the consummate professional he is, he'll be right back on it. He's already on the post-race recovery protocol. I’m sure he'll be in a good spot.”
Probably the biggest the difference for Pidcock between the mountain bike and the road race, is the the change in expectation. Whilst the INEOS Grenadiers man was a heavy favourites to defend his mountain bike gold, the Brit is just one of a number of superstars competing in the road race, going up against the likes of Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, Mads Pedersen, Biniam Girmay and more. Nevertheless, Park remains confident that Pidcock will be right in the mix for what would be a third Olympic gold of his career.
“I think winning will give him a huge amount of confidence for the road race,” Parks says, noting the boost not only for Pidcock himself but also for teammates Fred Wright, Stephen Williams and Joshua Tarling. “There's no doubt that we need to ride well as a team, and everyone else will be motivated. Tom’s got the legs, and he's up for the race, so they'll be keen to ride for him. So it should be a fantastic race.”
As for the chances of another gold? “It's possible,” Parks said. “But I think if there was one event in cycling, I wouldn't put a wager on it’s the road race. Because it’s such a tough race. It's normally a war of attrition and if the entire peloton rides against you, then it's incredibly difficult to win. But it is possible. We'll just have to see how it plays out, but we'll definitely be in the running.”
Great cyclist but better off road than on at the moment. He comes accross as a bit blunt at times in interviews but that is just his northern upbringing. Seems like a decent bloke to me. Good at one day races and is often in the mix in big races at the end as in MLSan Remo, Amstel G and L B L. I would not write him off or Tarling for that matter. Having said that MVP looks like the clear favourte with WVA close behind.
Too optimistic to think he can win the road race. A contender for sure but when has he beaten MVDP with MTB preparation and Covid
Pidcock has become very unlikable. Hard to put a finger on it, but he isn't a fun winner.
he only needs the support of the British and he's got that.
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