Tom Pidcock acknowledges greater prowess by Mathieu, as per his remarks about Van der Poel during discussion about his potential in Vuelta GC, mentioning that a clash at MTB Worlds is no longer possible.
Tom Pidcock Targets Top 10 Finish in Vuelta a España
Tom Pidcock, the versatile British cyclist, is set to participate in the Vuelta a Españña for the second time in the 2025 season. The 26-year-old, who shares the peloton with another multi-discipline star, Mathieu van der Poel, aims for a top 10 finish in the General Classification (GC) of the race.
Pidcock's focus on road racing Grand Tours is evident as he leads his team Q36.5 at the Vuelta a España, which takes place from August 23 to September in Turin. His goal is to secure a top 10 overall finish and stage wins, marking a significant step in his development as a Grand Tour contender and road racer.
However, Pidcock's time trial skills need improvement for a successful GC bid in the Vuelta a España. This focus on road racing means he will miss the Mountain Bike World Championships in September, where Van der Poel will race.
A Rivalry Built on Respect
Pidcock and Van der Poel are often compared due to their aggressive and entertaining styles in road racing, cyclocross, and mountain biking. While Van der Poel excels in sprinting and short, punchy climbs, Pidcock is a natural climber.
Van der Poel has won eight monument races and world championships across three disciplines: cyclocross, gravel, and road racing, including a prestigious road world title. This puts him far ahead of Pidcock in terms of major road victories. Pidcock, on the other hand, has notable classics wins like Amstel Gold Race and Strade Bianche, and world titles and races in mountain biking and cyclocross.
Despite the differences in their racing strengths and schedules, Pidcock openly acknowledges that Van der Poel is "far ahead" in major road victories and aspires to reach that level. He appreciates their rivalry and the unique qualities each brings to the sport.
The Road Ahead
As Pidcock prepares for the Vuelta a España, he sees winning a Grand Tour as the hardest challenge in cycling. Van der Poel, who has recently had crashes and a lack of form in mountain biking, is returning to racing after pulling out of the Tour with pneumonia.
Pidcock recently won a stage at the Arctic Race of Norway but missed out on the GC win behind Corbin Strong. Despite this, he remains optimistic about his chances in the Vuelta a España and aspires to achieve greater success on the road in the latter half of his 20s, following in the footsteps of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.
With the Vuelta a España just around the corner, the stage is set for another exciting chapter in Tom Pidcock's career as he strives to make a mark in the world of road racing.
[1] BBC Sports [2] Cycling News [3] Velonews [4] Cycling Weekly [5] Road.cc
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