No time for a wheelie today: Tom Pidcock narrowly wins second mountain bike World Cup race
The 22-year-old didn't have time to revel in a flamboyant finish line celebration as he just pipped Vlad Dascalu to the line

Tom Pidcock won his second mountain bike World Cup race in successive weeks in Nové Město, Czech Republic, on Sunday, beating Trek Factory rider Vlad Dascalu during the final sprint.
The Ineos Grenadiers rider dominated in Albstadt, Germany, last weekend, and even had time to entertain the crowd by wheelieing across the finish line. This time around, though, Pidcock faced more of a challenge from Dascalu, meaning he didn't have an opportunity to produce yet another flamboyant celebration.
Admitting he struggled around the Nové Město course, characterised by gruelling long climbs and a 2.7km start lap followed by seven laps of the full 3.9km circuit, Pidcock almost seemed relieved to win the event.
"That was a difficult race," Pidcock said afterwards. "To be honest I felt crap all race. I just couldn't push, and I had only one pace. I couldn't go hard enough to split it, but the pace we were going was quite comfortable, it was weird.
"I knew Vlad would have a super fast last lap and I was having problems with my bike - it just wasn't playing out right. But I knew that if I could just hold the gap to Vlad, then with the headwind at the finish I'd be able to come past him."
With four riders leading the race on the final lap, Dascalu decided to launch multiple attacks. His first was quelled by Pidcock, Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM) and Mathias Flückiger (Thomus Maxon), but his second, on the main climb, was only followed by the Briton.
Both Pidcock and Dascalu matched each other's pace heading into the final straight, where Pidcock eventually showed his superiority by comfortably sprinting to the race win. Meanwhile, mountain bike world champion Nino Schurter managed to finish third, despite dropping to 17th in the fifth lap of the race after suffering a flat tire.
While the 22-year-old suggested mechanical problems contributed to him not feeling as powerful as he would have liked, Pidcock failed to detail any specific reason during the post-race interview.
“It just wasn’t working like it’s supposed to,” he said.
This is the second time the mountain bike Olympic champion has won at Nové Město, having beaten Mathieu van der Poel in last year's race to pick up the first elite mountain bike race victory of his career.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi, I'm a Trainee News Writer at Cycling Weekly.
I have worked for Future across its various sports titles since December 2020, writing news for Cycling Weekly, FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture. I am currently studying for a NCTJ qualification alongside my role as Trainee News Writer at the company.
Prior to joining Future I attended Cardiff University, earning a degree in Journalism & Communications.
-
-
EF Education-EasyPost and Israel-Premier Tech to race all-new Maryland Classic in September, one of just 4 UCI races in the US
A truly international field slated to attend America's newest UCI race
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Kristen Faulkner cools down after making a splash at the Giro Donne
The American headed straight for the sea to after winning the stage and taking the Giro Donne overall lead
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Tom Pidcock wheelies across finish line as he dominates mountain bike World Cup race
The 22-year-old won in Albstadt in his first mountain bike race since the Tokyo Olympics
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Tom Pidcock set to return to mountain biking as he skips Giro d'Italia
22-year old riding mountain bike event in Germany this weekend instead of lining up in Budapest
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Could Tom Pidcock's recon ride of cobbles prove he's racing Tour de France?
Pidcock explored parts of the Tour de France cobbled stage on Monday despite originally being scheduled to start the Giro d'Italia
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: Tom Pidcock 'is going to be a force to be reckoned with this year'
Pidcock admits he's still learning the ropes of leading a team after Opening Weekend
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Tom Pidcock and Geraint Thomas to make season debuts at Volta ao Algarve
David Gaudu, Remco Evenepoel and Tobias Foss will also race in Portugal from tomorrow
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tom Pidcock already focusing on road season: 'I lack a bit in hours but I have the intensity'
The Ineos Grenadiers rider is confident despite low volume training
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Tom Pidcock: pressure of World Championships seems 'relatively tranquil' compared to Olympics
British star heads to the cyclocross World Championships as one of the outstanding favourites
By Adam Becket • Published
-
With no Van Aert or Van der Poel, who can win the cyclocross World Championships?
Tom Pidcock, Eli Iserbyt and Toon Aerts will be among the favourites to win in Arkansas at the end of the month
By Adam Becket • Published