Tom Pidcock 'getting better every day' as he edges closer to Tour of Britain lead
The Yorkshireman is now just three seconds away from the overall lead as the race approaches the Isle of Wight finale
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Tom Pidcock put his frustrations to bed on stage five of the Tour of Britain as the Ineos Grenadiers star picked up crucial bonus seconds in the fight for the overall win.
The Leeds-born rider finished third on the day’s stage won by Jordi Meus of Bora-Hansgrohe meaning he now sits just three seconds away from the race lead of Gonzalo Serrano of Movistar.
Post-stage, Pidcock explained that the racing was now nicely-poised going into the key stage six test through the Cotswold Hills of Gloucestershire and the team had more than rectified their previous mistakes from earlier in the week.
The 23-year-old said: “It was a good day for us and that was the plan to try and pick up some seconds at the finish. Yeah, we were making up for some mistakes and bad days really today.”
In a chaotic finish, a group of riders took a wrong turn as the race neared the finish sparking confusion in the main field. Pidcock had all eyes on the events as they unfolded and explained that the final run into the line wasn’t clear.
He added: “We came in and there was this right hand corner on a massive five, six lane road. We were going to take the shortest line on the right and suddenly there were barriers in the middle. It wasn’t so clear in that respect.”
The climbing on offer throughout stage six presents the perfect opportunity for Ineos Grenadiers as they look to push on and catapult Pidcock into the race lead. He explained to Cycling Weekly that the team still had multiple cards to play in the fight for overall victory with Omar Fraile in third.
After narrowly missing out on a stage win on his home roads, the Ineos rider admitted that tomorrow could be the day to make the difference.
He said: “I think I’m getting better every day now. We want to try and win this race now and tomorrow should be a nice hard day.
“Me and Omar are right there on GC so we’ve got two really good cards. Then of course we’ve got Magnus as well who picked up a few bonus seconds. We’re in a really good position now.”
After the drama of stage four, Pidcock was open in admitting that he and the team were feeling the frustration of what he felt were other teams looking at them to force the action. However, on the flatter stage five into Mansfield multiple teams were involved in proceedings as they looked to tee up their fast men, something that Pidcock welcomed.
“It was nice that other teams came to help. It shows a bit of respect and it’s how cycling works, it was a sprint stage so the sprint teams should work. When everyone else looks at us it gets frustrating, so it was nice to see a bit of collaboration in the group today,” he said.
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
Tom is a Digital News and Features Writer at Cycling Weekly.
Before joining the Cycling Weekly team, he worked at Oxford Brookes University, most recently in the Internal Communications team. An avid cycling follower with a keen interest in racing, his writing previously featured on Casquettes and Bidons.
-
-
Adrie van der Poel reveals banter exchanged with Mathieu before CX World Championships
Van der Poel senior says that his sons cyclo-cross season has been ‘perfect’ preparation for a strong start to the cobbled classics
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'They come to my country and kill kids': UCI's decision to allow Russian riders at World Championships draws passionate reaction
There has been a mixed response to the UCI's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian riders the opportunity to return to the international stage.
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
‘Cyclo-cross can’t exist with just three riders’ - Sven Nys on CX appearance fee disparity
Some CX riders reportedly forced to race for free due to large appearance fees handed to Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Sven Nys says Tom Pidcock skipping cyclo-cross World title defence ‘makes sense’
‘An effort to win in Hoogerheide will cost so much’ says Belgian cyclocross legend on a course that favours Pidcock's rivals
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
In celebration of Peter Sagan, cycling's rock and roll frontman
As the three-time world champion is set to call time on his career in the WorldTour at the end of 2023, we thought we would take a look back at the glory days
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Wout van Aert comes out on top once more in battle of cyclocross ‘big three’ at Superprestige Diegem
Puck Pieterse victorious in women’s race in Diegem, Belgium
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I remember the crowds more than anything': Tom Pidcock recalls his Alpe d'Huez Tour de France stage win
Our male rider of the year, Tom Pidcock, talks us through the highs and lows of his 2022 campaign
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Leo Hayter, Cycling Weekly's rising star of 2022, talks through his season in the spotlight
We caught up with the winner of the "Baby Giro" to hear all about the win in Italy and his dream move to Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers release 'visibly fast' 2023 jersey
Navy is replaced with red as British team changes its look
By Adam Becket • Published