Opinion: Alpe d’Huez was masterful, but Strade Bianche win was Tom Pidcock’s finest yet

The stunning victory forged in the dust of Monte Sante Marie firmly eclipsed last summer's Tour de France stage winning glory

Tom Pidcock
(Image credit: Getty Images)

On Saturday afternoon, reports of a loud bang heard across England were later reported as being a sonic boom from a fighter jet, scrambling to assist a stricken aircraft. Although of course, we know that was really a cover up. What really caused such a bang was a certain 23-year-old from Leeds on a Pinarello Dogma, smashing through the gravel of Strade Bianche in such resounding style that it generated shockwaves all the way to northern Europe.

In a career that’s already seen so much glory, it’s a tough task to rank Tom Pidcock’s achievements in terms of greatness. But it’s safe to say that Saturday’s victory firmly eclipsed Alpe d’Huez glory last summer as Pidcock’s finest hour yet.

Now to some, arguing it usurped the prestige of a Tour de France stage win may seem like a bold claim. However, starting by looking at the makeup of the competition this time round proves the point that it certainly did. 

When reflecting on victory on the Alpe, Pidcock previously told CW that he “didn’t win from the best riders in the world,” although this time, it was different. Yes, he’s beaten Wout van Aert before, but this was a class above. What unfolded on Saturday on the Monte Sante Marie was an unrelenting, bestial attack from the peloton on the races decisive five-star gravel sector to make a difference. Not simply winning a final sprint at Brabantse Pijl

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Tom Thewlis
News and Features Writer

After previously working in higher education, Tom joined Cycling Weekly in 2022 and hasn't looked back. He's been covering professional cycling ever since; reporting on the ground from some of the sport's biggest races and events, including the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix and the World Championships. His earliest memory of a bike race is watching the Tour on holiday in the early 2000's in the south of France - he even made it on to the podium in Pau afterwards. His favourite place that cycling has taken him is Montréal in Canada.