Tom Pidcock decides on 12-race cyclocross schedule in run-up to World Championships bid
The Brit will often line up alongside Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert this winter
Tom Pidcock has decided on 12 cyclocross races over the next two months as he looks to ride himself into form ahead of his bid for the rainbow bands in Fayetteville at the end of January.
The 22-year-old will make his return to cyclocross on December 4 in Belgium at the Telenet Superprestige Boom, a race he will go into with zero preparation according to coach Kurt Bogaerts, and then look to ride himself into form after a long break following his debut WorldTour road season with Ineos Grenadiers.
"We keep racing because it's good for him," Bogaerts told Het Laatste Nieuws of the design behind Pidcock's schedule. "But it's not possible to be [at the] top [level] all the time. The road season is becoming increasingly important. If there is also a Grand Tour in it, he commits robbery on his body with specific preparation for cyclocross [in the preceding autumn months].”
The Antwerp World Cup round follows on December 5, followed by three further World Cup meets in the next fortnight at Val di Sole, Rucphen and Namur.
Then comes the Christmas trio of Dendermonde on Boxing Day followed by Heusen-Zolder and Diegem. Pidcock opens the new year with races at X20 Trophy Baal and his penultimate World Cup round at Hulst before a training camp in Calpe before the X20 Trophy Hamme on January 22 and the Hoogerheide World Cup race the following day. Then, a week later, he will battle for the rainbow jersey at the Cyclocross World Championships in Fayetteville, United States.
"Fayetteville is a course with opportunities for Tom, we saw that at the World Cup race," Bogaerts continued. “If he makes the crossing to the United States, it's not just to participate. His ultimate goal is to become world champion in three disciplines.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
In nearly every race Pidcock will face up against at least one of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, the gold and silver medalists from the 2021 Worlds in Oostende and Pidcock's greatest rivals for the 2022 title.
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
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. 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.
-
Wout van Aert 'in a good place’ ahead of Tour of Flanders despite Visma-Lease a Bike illness and injury crisis
Loss of Christophe Laporte and Dylan van Baarle 'a big blow' says DS Grischa Niermann as team builds for Monument double header
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
I’m a fat cyclist; these are the top 3 misconceptions people have about bigger riders and why they’re wrong
After my recent 'We're fat cyclists' reel went viral, I realized I had hit a nerve
By Marley Blonsky Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tough new Strade Bianche course 'tips the scales' in favour of climbers, Matej Mohorič says
Slovenian says adjustments to the route will make race a 'journey into the unknown’
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It doesn’t change anything’ - Tom Pidcock’s coach on Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche
Kurt Bogaerts says the pressure is off for Pidcock as he looks to defend the title he emphatically won last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Five things we learned from Opening Weekend: SD Worx are beatable, while Quick-Step still a way from Classics form
A recap on what we know now that Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne are out of the way
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock says he’s ‘strong and fit’ and ready to go ahead of Opening Weekend
Pidcock set to lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘We're now the hunter, not the hunted’ - New Ineos Grenadiers CEO commits to reclaiming top spot amongst WorldTour elite
John Allert outlines team’s targets and ambitions for 2024, including regaining Grand Tour dominance of old
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
WATCH: Wout van Aert loses saddle in late crash but still manages to win Benidorm round of cyclo-cross World Cup
Belgian finally ended Mathieu van der Poel’s winter CX dominance on Sunday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I only live 10km away’ - Cameron Mason on the pressure of a home British Cyclo-cross Championships
Scotsman says he will look to try and ‘take the race on’ at Callendar Park in Falkirk
By Tom Thewlis Published