Joris Nieuwenhuis had to surrender to Tom Pidcock in Namur: "I tried to ride his wheel for a while, but I had to let go"

Joris Nieuwenhuis recorded his first victory in the World Cup last week in Val di Sole and followed up that performance in Namur. The Dutchman finished third on top of the Citadel, behind Tom Pidcock and teammate Pim Ronhaar of Baloise Trek Lions. Speaking to In de Leiderstrui, Nieuwenhuis caught up afterwards to chat about last two weeks.

Nieuwenhuis said he did not get into the flow in Namur that he had in Merksplas, Boom or Val di Sole, the races he managed to win this winter. "It was tough anyway. I actually had a good start, after which I was seventh or eighth and was able to move up quite quickly. The two of us were in the lead quite quickly and I and Pim continued well, but I soon saw that Tom was getting closer."

Pidcock clearly rode at a different level, Nieuwenhuis also concluded. "I tried to ride his wheel for a while, but I quickly realized that I just had to go at my own pace." That was no surprise. "I knew he was going to be very good here. On circuits like this it becomes very difficult to beat someone like that, because he can use his power a lot more."

Nieuwenhuis was the first to admit that he had gotten the most out of it. "I didn't really feel great, I think I was suffering from a small cold. My nose was also a bit closed, so I was only breathing through my mouth," said the Baloise Trek Lions rider. "But other than that it was just fine, in terms of form it is of course still fine. But I didn't have that extra something that made me feel really good about it."