Tom Pidcock spending Christmas alone as he continues cyclocross campaign
The British star will stay in Belgium before heading to his first Ineos Grenadiers training camp in January
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Tom Pidcock will be spending Christmas alone as he continues to chase cyclocross podiums in Belgium.
The British rider (Trinity Racing) has been focussed on his CX ambitions this winter, competing with star Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix).
Pidcock’s winter campaign has been hugely successful so far, after he beat Van der Poel in the Telenet Superprestige Gavere and then took third in the World Cup round in Namur.
But Pidcock’s success has come with sacrifice, as he said he hasn’t seen his family or his girlfriend since November, and he will be spending Christmas alone in Belgium.
The 21-year-old said in Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws: “I will celebrate Christmas on my own. I don't see my family and my girlfriend very often. The last time was in November. It's not all about Christmas. I will stay in Belgium until the cross from Hulst (January 3) and then I will go to training camp with Ineos. ”
Next season will be a major turning point for rising star Pidcock, as will be making the jump to the WorldTour with British super-team Ineos Grenadiers.
>>> National Hill Climb Championships will be held on iconic Winnats Pass in 2021
On his performance in Namur last weekend, where Pidcock finished behind winner Van der Poel and Van Aert, he said: “I felt there was more in me in the last lap. It was about the feeling that Wout van Aert had. I didn't know how strong I was. I had set my mind on winning by a lead.
“If I had won, I wouldn't have learned anything.
“I learned a lot by not winning. I have learned that I need to have more confidence in the last lap. Wout and Mathieu are now riders I have to race, not those I have to look up to. If I had believed in myself more, I could have finished second.”
Thank you for reading 10 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
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
'I'm studying maths – my brain needs something else besides cycling': Thomas Gloag on his hunger for learning on and off the bike
The 21-year-old Londoner and new Jumbo-Visma signing on rising to the challenge as he begins his WorldTour career
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Jess Roberts doubles up at British Track Championships as 19 year-old sprinter topples Olympian
Comeback queen wins her first solo national title in the scratch race
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
17-year-old CX rider ‘catapulted’ into layby by tractor scores top ten finish at national champs
Raph Tabiner from Warrington nearly gave up racing all together after shocking incident
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel deserve big CX appearance fees, says British champ
British national champion says Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel receive high appearance fees for a reason
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Zoe Bäckstedt obliterates all competition to become British female national cyclocross champion
After overcoming a difficult start, Cameron Mason destroyed the field to take the men’s title
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
From learning to read again to racing Wout van Aert: Ben Frederick's journey to the top of cyclo-cross
The American suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2016, but has refound his love for cycling and has ridden some elite CX races this winter
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Wout van Aert wins round 12 of the Men's Cyclocross World Cup in the Zonhoven sandpit
The early stages suggested it was going to be a battle between the top four, but Van Aert went clear and never looked back
By Jack Elton-Walters • Published
-
Shirin van Anrooij wins Zonhoven round of the Cyclocross World Cup
Shirin van Anrooij was simply the best rider on the day as she coped best with the sandy course
By Jack Elton-Walters • Published
-
Wout van Aert claims most dominant cyclo-cross win of the season at X20 Trofee Koksijde
The Belgian mastered the sand ruts to beat Mathieu van der Poel by over a minute and a half
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel and Puck Pieterse win X20 Trofee Herentals cyclo-cross
It's a Dutch golden day out in Belgium as the Alpecin pair win
By Adam Becket • Published