It was a top ride from @tompidcock to take a hard-fought third place in Gavere at the #CXWorldCup 👏 It was also great to see @ThymenArensman win his Boxing Day hit out at Kerstcross 🥇
"It was chasing the entire cross" - Bad start and fallen chain have Tom Pidcock just barely climb into Gavere podium
CyclocrossTuesday, 26 December 2023 at 19:00
Tom Pidcock had a fitting track in Gavere and rode to a third place, however that was the best possible after he had a difficult start to the race.
“I didn't necessarily have a bad start, but I just didn't have any space. On the second lap I think I had moved up to tenth position, but then my chain fell off. That put me behind again. It was chasing the entire cross," Pidcock admitted. "At one point I think I was riding quite fast, but in the final I made some mistakes. But at least I'm on the podium. On the first lap I wasted some energy diving into holes that might not have been there. That was the only chance to try to win today."
The Briton is known to have modest starts, and although today he was not as far behind as usual, he still had to be on the run-up throughout the entire race. This time around however he found competition in Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, who had already carved up a significant gap that the Briton was never close to shutting down. He still rode a strong finale and overtook Joris Nieuwenhuis to finish third on the day and join his rivals on the podium, however that was the maximum he could achieve.
"But yes, Mathieu was strong. Still, I think I rode a good cross. It was just a shame about the start. It would have been nice to race at the front from the start. Would I have been able to compete with Mathieu if I had started well? We know he is probably the strongest at the moment, on any course. He is world champion for a reason," Pidcock concludes.
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