"It will always be difficult for me in the sand. I train on it, but I'm not getting any better at it" - Tom Pidcock admits flaws in cyclocross arsenal

Tom Pidcock has returned to racing at yesterday's Exact Cross Mol, however found a course where he could not match the pure power of Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. Despite finishing third, the World Champion had not so positive feedback from the day.

After the race, Pidcock told Het Nieuwsblad that "it will always be difficult for me in the sand. I train on it, but I'm not getting any better at it. It doesn't seem to help." He had previously talked about how the flat course in Hoogerheide was more suited to the two powerhouse riders and that played a role in his likely decision to skip the title defense. In Antwerp he struggled in the sand and rode to an eighth place, and here it was not too different.

“I was looking for my rhythm, but that was obviously not the rhythm of Wout and Mathieu. A third place on this course makes me happy. I was able to beat Sweeck and Hermans, who was very good at the end," he commented. He rode most of the race fighting for the podium, and managed to attack the Belgian duo towards the end to ride into third, however over 1:20 minutes behind race winner van Aert - and 24 behind van der Poel.

However, he shrugs off the result. “The intention was to work here on the form towards the next races. In that respect I can be satisfied. So in the end I did gain confidence, yes," he concluded. He will have a busy schedule now throughout the Christmas block, and will be present in the Gavere World Cup where he will face his rivals once again.