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Yesterday Tom won another MTB race the Swiss cup, hope this guy concentrates on MTB in the future rather than road and cyclocross as we need a top rider in the XC uci, but I think there will be more money for him to earn on the road.
Pidcock's first love is cyclocross but like Matthieu Van der Poel and Wout Van Aert he's obviously good enough to cross (sic) over to road and in both his and VdP's case MTB. Van der Poel has stated he wishes to be world champion in all three disciplines.
Does seem a bit odd that Ineos let him ride an MTB race unless they don't have plans for him in the major stage races.
Blew that field away he did....
Pidcock’s first love is cyclocross
Mitch Docker’s Life in the Peloton is worth a listen. It’s not that clear that Cyclo Cross is Pidcock’s “first love”. What he says about cycling is that he wants to be the best cyclist - across all disciplines.
I really hope he maintains what he is doing whether on the road or off. He is an amazing rider all round though I’m definitely biased to seeing him race on the road.
Edit to add: Seems Ineos would prefer he wouldn’t do the MTB events but looks as though he is a good enough rider that he could dictate terms to a degree. Ineos have him lined up for at least one of the Grand Tours this year and he had a good classics season. So yeah they expect much from him.
was an odd race that - more like a 90's xc course than a modern one, unless there were a load of technical bits that didn't make the telly. Seemed like one really long grind.
Still, yeah, he rode away from the field really strongly
Isn't he planning on doing MTB at the Olympics, so has switched focus to that after the classics? Not sure about plans after that.
Presumably as a top rider for ineos he'll be on a pretty good salary, how many top MTB racers are on >1M/year? Making allowances for the Olympics is one thing, letting your top guys break themselves mountain biking shortly before the Tour de France is another.
letting your top guys break themselves mountain biking shortly before the Tour de France is another.
Far more likely to be hurt in a random peloton crash than riding or racing XC
I imagine the concern is over the impact on his conditioning as the demands of XC are a lot different to classics and even more so to grand tours
Completely agree about the course but really excited about him racing XCO - Shurter Avencini MvDP Sarrou Fluekiger Cink Marrot & now him 😳 it all kicks off this weekend 👍
Is Tom riding Albstadt ???
Yes. He's got no ranking points so starts 92nd on the grid. Hopes for top 16.
There's no way Tom will ride the TdF but I think Ineos will put him in the Vuelta if he has the legs after the Olympics. Whether he rides the full 3 weeks or not is another matter... this road season is about experience not results- although he's not done too badly so far!
I think he's doing 3 world Cup races through May. He's hoping to race mtb at the Olympics too.
Oh, to be that talented. There is one thing to switch between disciplines in different phases of your career but to switch almost week to week.....
I don't know what the most obvious cross over event for a cross/mtber is on the road. Crits I guess. Grand tours seem on the face of it to be a very different beast. Surely a space could be found for him in the track pursuit team too if he wanted to dominate the world!
Seems Ineos would prefer he wouldn’t do the MTB events but looks as though he is a good enough rider that he could dictate terms to a degree
Ineos specifically employed TP's existing coach because they don't have the required off-road expertise. He went to that race with 2 mechanics, a soigneur, another carer and his coach, all sorted by Ineos so I don't think you can claim they don't want him doing it - they clearly allocated significant resources to it.
do you think they've had a conversion with G, no more sprinting please it's obviously too dangerous for you ?
Pidcock needs to take G down Bike Park Wales for some tuition about staying on 2 wheels.
I wonder if signing Pidcock is related the the Grenadier 4x4. Having an off road rider must help with marketing.
He has stated he wants to won as much as he can - and across various disciplines....I doubt he'd have signed for Ineos if that wasn't allowed.
While yesterday was impressive, it wasn't full of the top racers with only Carod of the top 10 present.
Will be interesting to see were he ends up after starting right at the back on Sunday; he's aiming for top 16, which enables him to get in the Short track for Nove Mesto the week after.
From what I understand - (told by my mate who been a roadie for eons) Pidcock is on his own agenda with his own coaching schedule, team and agenda at Ineos ?
Apparently his value as a rider allowed him to dictate his calendar (I guess to a degree). To date, he has certainly proven his worth and lived up to expectation.
It's worth nothing that although the field was not stacked, Carod did finish 3rd at the 2020 World champs, so he's definitely handy in the bike. However, you can never tell riders form until WC day.
The coverage on swiss sport was limited, if you are able to find it, have a look at the helmet cam videos. There were some technical elements in there. I can't help but think that the initial climb really suited Tom, he can't weigh much?
I've heard him say more than once that he'd like to win the WC DH too. I like him, very much imo a 'British' cyclist, just likes the bikes like all of us. Good at winning on them too.
I did read that the Swiss course was more technical than you could see on the telly - regardless I'm pretty sure Pidcock would be up for the more technical courses anyway.
With the Olympics being such a think in the UK, it's probably great publicity for Ineos to have him there with (surely?) a chance of a medal in the XC.
That b@stard's local to me and took one of my most coveted local KOMs last year. (I thought it would stand forever!)
That will be the high point of his career I'm sure.
Hopefully along with Evie Richards he'll raise the profile of XCO racing as well.
Yeah the field wasn’t the best but still some good riders in the top ten ie Carrod,colombo,frischknecht,fluchiger, and was well over 3 mins in front of them
Looked like a steep CX course.
3238 ft gained over 13.71 miles is painful, a relatively low 9.6 mi/h average for Tom, shows how hard it was.
Anyone know what bike he's riding? I didn't see any mountain bikes in the Pinarello line up.
I don’t think you can claim they don’t want him doing it
Don’t think I’m claiming that at all. I’m claiming this:
From what I understand – (told by my mate who been a roadie for eons) Pidcock is on his own agenda with his own coaching schedule, team and agenda at Ineos
Ineos don’t like stuff being out of their control. Which is fairly well known I’d say. That doesn’t mean they won’t do their utmost for a rider they value. The two things aren’t exclusive. Pidcock is one hell of a talent and has ambitions to be a great bike rider. So of course a team that values him will support him.
BMC 2 stroke apparently
What are you watching the mountain bike racing? Can't see it on Eurosport where I thought it'd be.
Cheers.
XCO World Cup is on Red Bull TV (free app) The race in question last weekend was on Swiss chanel Swiss Sport TV.
Hopefully along with Evie Richards he’ll raise the profile of XCO racing as well.
We really need a round of the XC World Cup in the UK - it's been far too long without one. And a CX World Cup as well......
Just need to find backers with the money - and a venue.
Ineos Grenadiers shared it on their Facebook page - I watched a full replay this afternoon.
The link seems to have expired and I can't find any other highlights on the web. I'll keep an eye out though for the next UCI round.
Cheers for the links 👍
Did you see what bike Pidcock was on?
It seems that Pinarello don't make mountain bikes anymore so he's riding an unbranded BMC, but the surprising thing is the fork being Suntour.
One wonders how/why they made their equipment choices.
Last year with Trinity Racing I think he was on an Epic, with Sram and RockShox forks. It was assumed, as Pinarello don't have a MTB, he'd use an unbranded Epic, but with Shimano groupset.
However, when they released the testing coverage, it was all change; BMC bike, with Suntour forks/shocks, plus Shimano XTR groupset, and Continental tyres.
Great to see him racing XC!
I watched the first lap or so of the video and noticed that he looked very cautious over the feature on the 1st lap at 27:20 in
The Suntour forks have been pretty common at WC races - carbon crown, legs and sub 1500g so hardly junk. I presume also some kind of sponsor / contractual reasons.
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/entry-list-nove-mesto-xc-world-cup-2021.html
No Pidcock on the start list for Nove Mesto? Or am I blind?
Elite men - No 87
He's there, number 87
He's number 87.
Don't do that to us again.
Wonder why there is an asterisk against his name? And its surprising he hasn't got a team listed against him
I'm guessing Ineos aren't registered as a trade team for XC?
Keep looking - he is at 87 - it might be based on UCI points or something.
I think the asterisk means U23
He's there: #87
Cleaner list is at: https://www.uci.org/mountain-bike/events/mercedes-benz-uci-mountain-bike-world-cup
oops. Seems I am blind.
#87 (where they have begun numbering at #25 for reasons best known for themselves)
https://www.uci.org/mountain-bike/rankings
Seems his ranking is 17th, so that does mean he's in the short track.
And its surprising he hasn’t got a team listed against him
From what I can work out there is a difference between being on a registered UCI mtb race team, and being effectively a privateer-bankrolled-by-Ineos.
He could really clean up in XC with a front row start - I'm not sure even VDP would be able to hold his wheel..
Yeah MVP never seems to maintain his speed in the races, he always seems to blow up after a couple of laps
MVDP is just using the XC races for a training exercise - I think if he wanted to win and targeted those events he probably could.
For example - that bit where he shot of the front near the start - you can almost hear the coach "get in a few good sprints off the front to sharpen your legs"
From what i understand, TP's result at Albstadt gets him a start in the short track at Nove Mesto & his result from that then determines his grid place for the XCO.
I wonder if MVP was going for one of his 'shock and awe' attacks, but it didn't quite garner him the distance he expected.
I wonder if MVP was going for one of his ‘shock and awe’ attacks, but it didn’t quite garner him the distance he expected.
In the post-race interview he said he was trying to split the pack a bit and was hoping a few would go with him.
MVDP is just using the XC races for a training exercise – I think if he wanted to win and targeted those events he probably could.
No doubt he could win, but I think he races by feel / instinct rather than having a game plan and sticking to it. That results in some exciting races but a bit of a lottery with regards to results (see also some of his road races).
Asterix is because he's u23.
I wonder if MVP was going for one of his ‘shock and awe’ attacks, but it didn’t quite garner him the distance he expected.
Ironcily he's basically announced his intention to do just this at the TdF. Blast about in the first week, hopefully lead for a bit, get on TV. Then DNF to prepare for Tokyo.
Anyone know what bike he’s riding? I didn’t see any mountain bikes in the Pinarello line up.
HT is a BMC 2 Stroke as said above, FS is a BMC 4 Stroke and with the discussion about forks, its the same bike Absolute Absalon were riding last year.
As above, top 16 in an XCO gets you on the grid for the following XCE (as his U23 points / standings don't count in elite), your result in the following XCE then determines your grid position for the subsequent XCO and so on and so forth.
As for MvDP, it was a course with long drawn out climbs, so plenty of space for others to wind him back in, plus he kinda went pop
I think MvDP is fully committed to XCO he's stated this is his favourite discipline & Olympics are his objective - hasn't he said its the TDF he's doing for the team & publicity & he opted for his recent road campaign due to the non event of XCO in 2020. He won at Nove Mesto last time he dropped Nino on that technical climb.
I fully expect MvDP to take over the mantle from Nino in the not too distant future & think its Pidcock that will edge further to more road & probably huge success - though watching him last week it seems he's got the potential to clean up everywhere - either way last week was awesome & I expect this coming Sunday to be exactly the same - War ! 😀
MvDP uses an SRM power meter on his Canyon Lux.
I get the impression that MVP is below his best but is testing the water for how hard he has to attack to get a gap, he just can't hold it but he will be learning. Even in the short track the other day he gapped the field early and then eased back. I think most riders now realise MVP can gap them, this will get in their heads.
Looks like they've had a lot of rain in Nove Mesto today which should spice things up from last weekend if its a muddy race. Not sure who that favours really - the CX'ers or the MTB purists like Nino but should make for a great race again. Didn't Tom win the e-bike champs in some pretty grim conditions so he's pretty handy in the mud?
Interesting tidbit.
I was on Zwift yesterday am and Tom Pidcock was riding a low intensity workout alongside me. He had the blue tick and everything.
I said "Great work recently Tom P, bravo".
He didn't reply.
My workout was harder than his, so i zoomed ahead.
NO other exchanges took place.
True story.
DrP
NO other exchanges took place.
Strictly speaking, no exchanges took place.
BMC Four Stroke regarded as probably the best XC race bike out there? BMC Bikes across all disciplines well regarded apparently. Not satisfied with just seeing Pauline on one of their bikes BMC probably keen to see their bike under the pilotage of a high-performing male rider now that Sarrou has jumped ship to Specialized.
Strictly speaking, no exchanges took place.
😀
True...!
DrP
Pidcock did well in short track
Great work there, Dr P, bravo
I’ve always been a big downhill fan and follow the EWS quite closely but haven’t really followed XC since it was on Eurosport , but after reading about Tom Pidcock’s exploits at the first world cup last week I watched the replay and watched the short course last night and really enjoyed it , especially the short course .
Whats the deal with the olympics ? There was something mentioned on commentary about GB not qualifying for a spot in the men’s Olympic race .
Xc has improved a lot in the last 5 years or so, really thought Tom had got him but attacked once too many.
Has he done a Gwin and thrown his mechanic under the bus? And ‘last minute bike switch’ is that going from HT to FS or do they have more bikes available to them?
Edit - referring to is short track post race interview on red bull.
Not sure but I think GB are not sending an xc rider. Sure someone knows the full story
Looks like they’ve had a lot of rain in Nove Mesto today which should spice things up from last weekend if its a muddy race. Not sure who that favours really – the CX’ers or the MTB purists like Nino
IIRC Nino doesn't favour the mud, wet & cold.
We now need Woot van Aert to debut a XCO......
Not sure but I think GB are not sending an xc rider. Sure someone knows the full story
Discussed on this thread:
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/xco-2021/
TLDR, GB's lowly XC ranking (pre-Pidcock in essence) means we almost certainly can't send anyone to Tokyo, but there is an unlikely scenario with qualification 'out of our hands'.
Just watched short course replay - no spoiler if anybody hasn't but that was very tasty 👍
Exciting mtb racing who would have thunk it 😁
No spoilers, but that was a strong performance
As to why Pidcock isn't guaranteed an Olympics spot, GB haven't qualified. If Romanian champ Vlad Dascalu finishes 24 or higher then there's a possible spot for GB, and Tom is the obvious choice SHOULD they get the spot
Good day for Ineos!
Amazing stuff. What a hero!
17th. What does that mean then?
I like the big double jump and tail whip on the final lap, Pidcock can really ride.