In Portugal, Tom Pidcock clinches victory in the European mountain bike cross-country championship
Tom Pidcock Triumphs in European Mountain Bike Cross-Country Championship
Tom Pidcock, the reigning Olympic Champion in the XCO discipline, added another accolade to his impressive collection of achievements by winning the men's mountain bike cross-country gold at the European Championships in Melgaço, Portugal.
The British cyclist, who had taken a break from mountain biking to focus on road racing, made a triumphant return to the dirt in style. In his first race back on the dirt in a year, Pidcock dominated the competition, crossing the line with a time of 1:21.02.
Pidcock's victory was not without a fight. Halfway through the nine-lap race, he joined and took over from a solo Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory), who eventually finished second. Simon Andreassen (Orbea Fox) clinched third place.
Pidcock's victory marked his second European title in mountain bike cross-country, following his win in 2022. In Portugal, he wore a Team GB skinsuit, paying tribute to his Olympic title.
In the lead-up to the race, Pidcock had been focusing on the road, participating in a heavy schedule of Spring Classics followed by the Giro d'Italia. However, taking advantage that his team was not invited to the Tour de France, he turned his attention to mountain biking in July.
Tom Pidcock's career achievements are extensive and multifaceted, spanning cyclocross, mountain biking, and road racing. In mountain biking, he is a double Olympic champion and a two-time European MTB Cross-Country Champion. On the cyclocross circuit, he is a two-time British Champion and has multiple World Cup wins. In road racing, he won the Brabantse Pijl and consistently contended in hilly classics such as the Amstel Gold Race.
No detailed upcoming race calendar is currently available, but given the timing, it is likely that Pidcock may focus on late summer and autumn classics or mountain bike events in the coming months.
Summary of key achievements:
| Discipline | Major Achievements | |---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Cyclocross | 2022 Elite World Champion, 2x British Champion, multiple World Cup wins | | Mountain Biking | Double Olympic Champion, 2x European MTB Cross-Country Champion (2022, 2025) | | Road Racing | Brabantse Pijl winner (2021), Youngest Tour de France stage winner, yellow jersey wearer |
Mountain biking and road cycling are two sports that Tom Pidcock has excelled in. Despite his recent focus on road racing, Pidcock showcased his mountain biking skills with a dominant win at the European Mountain Bike Cross-Country Championship, adding another title to his impressive collection of achievements.
