“The important one is tomorrow” - Tom Pidcock issues warning after near-perfect MTB return in Nove Mesto

Tom Pidcock’s return to mountain bike racing came within a sprint of victory on Saturday, as the Briton finished second in the UCI Mountain Bike World Series Cross-country Short Track race in Nove Mesto.

Back on the MTB circuit after a road-focused spell, Pidcock was beaten only by France’s Mathis Azzaro after a fast, tactical finale. The pair forced their way clear late on, with Azzaro eventually coming past Pidcock in the finishing straight after 21 minutes and 46 seconds of racing.

For Pidcock, the result offered a sharp early signal before Sunday’s Olympic Cross-country race. Short track has never been the discipline he talks about most naturally, yet he was immediately back among the strongest riders in the world.

If second place came on the day he viewed as the awkward one, the main event now carries even more intrigue.

Pidcock did not race like a rider easing back into off-road competition. He stayed calm through the early laps, then moved forward as the race began to bite. When the decisive pressure came, he was one of the riders making it rather than reacting to it. Two accelerations on the climbs helped break the race open, and only Azzaro was able to stay with him as the leading pair went clear.

Pidcock arrived in Nove Mesto after putting more emphasis into his road programme in recent weeks. His 2026 form has already been visible on tarmac, but the switch back to the technical rhythm of elite mountain bike racing still brought an obvious test.

He was quick enough to almost win straight away. “I’m pretty happy with today,” said Pidcock afterwards. “It’s always very difficult coming back to my bike when I have such a long break. But we did everything we could in the days before to get the bike ready and get used to the Pinarello Dogma XC again. I did a little bit of riding at home, but probably not enough.”

Pidcock’s own verdict gave the performance its clearest context. He did not claim perfect preparation or try to dress up second place as a victory. He admitted the transition back to MTB had been difficult, then pointed directly to the race that matters most this weekend.

“I’ve been focusing more on efforts on the road, so to come here and perform like this, I can be happy,” he added. “Short track is always a difficult one for me, but second place is a good result - and the important one is tomorrow.”

That final line neatly sets up Sunday’s Olympic Cross-country race. Pidcock has already shown he is back at the sharp end, even before the event that suits his profile more clearly.

Azzaro took the win on Saturday, but Pidcock’s ride leaves him firmly in the frame for Sunday. After a long spell away from MTB racing, the reigning Olympic champion is already close enough to make his return weekend far more than a comeback appearance.