Pidcock on Van der Poel: 'On the road he’s far ahead of me'

It would be fair to say that most cyclists want what Mathieu van der Poel has, but it is notable when a rider often compared to the Dutchman admits as much. . That’s how Tom Pidcock feels, at least according to a recentpiece in Nieuwsblad. 

“He’s far ahead of me, Mathieu has things I would like to have,” the Brit, who rides for Q36.5, said. The comparison between the two might be slightly unfair, based mainly on their cross-discipline talents. Van der Poel is, in cycling terms, a big man, built for the Classics, sprinting and short punchy climbs. Pidcock is smaller and lighter, more of a climber, and will lead Q36.5’s GC bid at the Vuelta. Both have won races like the Amstel Gold Race and Strade Bianche, but the likeness is perhaps more about style. Both ride with an aggressive abandon that entertains, sells the sport and attracts fans.

“There are certain similarities between us,” Pidcock continued. “I think we both like to ride based on feeling, a bit more playfully. I don’t just look at numbers. We like the same things, like nice cars. Of course, we are also very different athletes. I’m smaller and lighter, much more of a climber. Mathieu belongs to the great Classics specialists.”

Pidcock, who recently won a stage and finished second overall at the Arctic Tour of Norway, also has something that Van der Poel seems to desire; success on the mountain bike. In recent years Pidcock has won two Olympic titles and a couple of rainbow jerseys, while the Dutch rider’s form has been shaky at best.

When Pidcock won his first Olympic Gold in Tokyo Van der Poel crashed out, he did the same at the 2022 World championships the following year. This year, while Pidcock has won both his top level MTB races, the European championships and the Andorra World Cup, Van der Poel broke his wrist in his only top level race this year.

While Van der Poel has not confirmed his place at the upcoming MTB Worlds in Switzerland, indeed he is yet to return to top level acing after abandoning the Tour de France with pneumonia, Pidcock’s attendance the Vuelta means the pair will not meet in Valais next month. 

“Mathieu may not be in his best period on the mountain bike, but if he sets his mind to something, you know that he will eventually succeed. Normally speaking, he belongs to the world’s best and that makes me want to race him,” Pidcock said.

“Mathieu is much better at getting big wins on the road than I am. He has not yet won monuments in different disciplines like I have, but on the road he’s the best. For me, the road is the most beautiful.”

After missing out on a stage win and finishing 16th at the Giro d’Italia last May, Pidcock will ride his second grand tour of the 2025 season at the Vuelta, starting in Turin later this month, though he knows winning in Spain is a huge task. 

“I’ll try to finish high in the standings. My time trial still needs to improve a lot, but maybe I can aim for the top ten. That would be great, but winning a Grand Tour is for me the hardest thing there is. I know what it’s like to win in a one-day race, but a Grand Tour? That’s something else.”

After Spain, the Brit has said that he would like to follow in the footsteps of Van der Poel, who took gold in 2023, and defending champion Tadej Pogačar at the World Championships on the road in Rwanda.

At 26, Pidcock is conscious of the clock. “Sometimes I feel old, but riders like Mathieu and Wout van Aert had achieved a lot at this age. I hope I’m now entering that phase of my career and can win the biggest races, just like them.”