Tom Pidcock enters Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday as the highest returning finisher of the 2023 race, within the absence of earlier winner Remco Evenepoel, and off the again of combined fortunes within the Ardennes, he can be a severe favorite for La Doyenne.
Pidcock took a beautiful general victory at Amstel Gold – breaking the seemingly adamantine profitable streak of Mathieu van der Poel. Nonetheless, he couldn’t produce the identical type at La Flèche Wallonne the place he was one of many dozens of riders who suffered from brutally chilly circumstances.
“I can’t say I’m pleased with my efficiency in Flèche,” Pidcock stated in feedback shared by Ineos Grenadiers on Saturday morning. “There have been positively higher males on the market than me that day, however I bought so chilly it was unattainable to consider the bike race anymore.”
The circumstances had been such that quite a few riders had been handled for hypothermic signs, with Mattias Skjelmose being probably the most controversial case as movies circulated on social media of the Lidl-Trek rider struggling and shaking with indicators of hypothermia.
Turning his consideration towards Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the British rider described his type as “Actually good” forward of the race.
“This can be a actual favorite race of mine. I’m wanting ahead to the problem and struggling,” he stated. “I understand how onerous it will likely be, however I’m prepared for that.”
Whereas Pidcock enters as a robust contender, he can have an enormous problem amid a hotly anticipated face-off between Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar – each of whom have returned from a coaching block in Spain.
Certainly, Van der Poel has his eyes mounted on Strade Bianche winner Pogačar as his main rival. “In Liège, the contenders can’t be counted on one hand, with Tadej Pogačar within the lead, in fact,” the Dutch rider stated.
Nonetheless, he didn’t low cost the younger British rider both. “There’s additionally Tom Pidcock. I consider Richard Carapaz, Tiesj Benoot, Mattias Skjelmose, Maxim Van Gils, Dylan Teuns, you title it…. All guys who proved up to now week that they’re in fine condition and are on paper higher climbers than myself,” Van der Poel stated.
Pidcock can be hoping to construct on his momentum from Amstel Gold and his earlier type in Liège. “I feel final 12 months I raced tremendous properly,” Pidcock stated. “Tactically and in addition bodily, I bought probably the most out of what I had within the locker, so I could be pleased with that.”
Pidcock enters the race supported by a robust Ineos Grenadiers group together with Richard Carapaz, Michal Kwiatkowski and Ethan Hayter, and a primary Monument win is a transparent ambition.
“I actually wish to chase my first Monument win,” Pidcock stated. “That’s what I attempt to do each time I begin one now.”
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