'I'll be there soon' says Tom Pidcock after impressing once more with top five at Strade Bianche
'I was thinking, yeah this is quite cool,' says the Brit after making the selection containing the world's top riders on the Tuscan gravel roads

There was a moment more than 150km into Strade Bianche where Tom Pidcock looked around and found himself surrounded by only the best riders this planet has to offer.
Two Tour de France winners in Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick-Step), and the eponymous pairing of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert battled it out in what was a mouthwatering spectacle against the picturesque Tuscan setting.
After an increasingly impressive start to his debut WorldTour season, it's surely only a matter of when and not if Pidcock will take a major win, have a race-winning prefix added to his name, and join the ranks of the above riders in stature, even if he's already finishing alongside them in the big WorldTour events.
"I was thinking, yeah this is quite cool, these are the biggest riders in the world, and then I was there as well. That was pretty cool," Pidcock says of making one of the final selections at Strade Bianche, finishing fifth after outsprinting Pogačar, Van der Poel having already dragged Alaphilippe and team-mate Bernal clear before the Dutchman powered to a stunning victory in the Piazza del Campo.
Pidcock survived unscathed after a puncture threatened to distance him from the pointy end of proceedings, a fate that befell fellow youngster Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo). Despite lacking the punch required to keep up with the likes of Van der Poel, a third and fifth for Ineos Grenadiers adds truth to the British squad's promise to excite fans in 2021.
>>> Lift off for Mathieu van der Poel as Dutchman powers to Strade Bianche victory
"It was good fun yeah, it was a hard day out. I'm quite pleased, I punctured just before Santa Maria, the sector before, so it was not ideal. But Puccio gave me his wheel so I didn't lose too much time and got back in before the end of the sector," Pidcock said.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"Yeah it was pretty good, Egan finished on the podium, we were coming to win but it's good to be on the podium, I'm quite happy with how I went, I didn't feel I had that much of a punch but...yeah it was good fun."
After also taking third at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, any pressure on Pidcock to live up to his billing has already evaporated, and the Brit will now continue his trajectory towards the top.
"I just didn't really have the legs to go any faster to be honest," Pidcock says of the moment he was finally detached alongside Wout van Aert after one of Van der Poel's numerous attacks. "But I can't complain, I'm there in the front group with those guys. It will take a few more races, a bit more experience, miles in the legs, and I'm sure I'll be there soon."
Thank you for reading 20 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
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How to watch Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025: Everything you need to live stream the cobbled Belgian Classic
All the information on broadcasters and live streams for Dwars door Vlaanderen on 2 April, as Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky take on the cobbles.
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tom Pidcock’s Q36.5 receive Giro d’Italia wildcard invite along with Tudor Pro Cycling
Team Polti Visit Malta and VF Group BardianiCSF - Faizane also receive invitations from RCS
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tadej Pogačar commemorates Strade Bianche crash with limited edition t-shirt - here's how you can buy it
Part of profits from new t-shirt will go to world champion's charity foundation
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How to watch Tirreno-Adriatico 2025: Everything you need to live stream the Italian early-season stage race
All the key information on broadcasters and live streams for Tirreno-Adriatico on March 10 - 16, so you can watch the Italian stage race - one of the early season's best races.
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I came pretty close' - Tom Pidcock left with mixed feelings after finishing second to Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche
Pidcock explains he didn’t want to ‘take advantage’ of world champion’s 'unfortunate' crash
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'Not the best way to win a race' - Tadej Pogačar comes back from dramatic crash to claim third Strade Bianche victory
World champion in 'a lot of pain' after falling into a ditch
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tadej Pogačar crashes into ditch at Strade Bianche, remounts bike to continue
World champion goes on to win race following rare crash
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We f****** did it' - Demi Vollering wins Strade Bianche battle against former coach Anna van der Breggen
FDJ-Suez rider claims victory with stinging uphill sprint
By Tom Davidson Published