16/12/2023

"I want to prove myself in the Tour" - Tom Pidcock back on cyclocross field but his mind lays elsewhere

Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock return to cyclocross today and that shakes the headlines over Belgium. The Briton, former World Champion, has his focus on the Tour de France but looks to perform strongly over the Christmas block.

"It's nice to be back. I have no expectations today, because I only did one cross-training. So we'll see. My fitness is good, but my technique... I will need every minute to practice my technique today," Pidcock told Sporza this morning. "Mathieu is always good in the field. Today will be no exception." Herentals is a circuit where two years ago Pidcock finished second to Wout van Aert, whilst last year Mathieu van der Poel took the best of van Aert.

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The form of the duo is relatively unknown and will be put to the test this afternoon. However Pidcock was quick to bring up that this block of racing serves as preparation for the upcoming season where he has the MTB Olympic Games and Tour de France as big goals. "I have a lot of big goals in the summer, so I use the winter as preparation. It will be a long summer with the Tour and the Olympic Games. To do a cyclo-cross World Championships so late is difficult."

"And if I go to the World Championships, I want to prepare 100 percent for it out of respect for the event. It is also difficult mentally. Wout van Aert lost last year and said that it was difficult for him during the road season. So I want to enjoy the Christmas period and prepare for the road season."

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The overall classification in France is actually the goal, something which may not be easy to be doing together with a fully focused preparation for mountain biking. However, if there is a rider that can do it, the 24-year old is certainly up there: "I want to prove myself in the Tour. Last year I didn't really know what I wanted and what the team wanted. I didn't have a clear goal and I paid the price for that. I came home with nothing."

"This year I want to fully focus on the general classification. Top 10? That's not really my motivation. My goal will become clearer after some stage races earlier in the year. I believe in myself more than last year, but I won't be able to say specifically what my goal is until later."