Pidcock sets retirement date as he reveals huge career goals before walking away

Tom Pidcock was the only rider alongside Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) to follow the accelerations of Tadej Pogačar on the Cipressa at Milan-Sanremo. Unlike Van der Poel, Pidcock was also able to match the World Champion pedal-stroke for pedal-stroke on the final climb, the Poggio.

Both Pogačar and Van der Poel had suffered a crash just a few kilometres before the Cipressa, and Pidcock described the zombie-like efforts of the World Champion as he caught up to the front and immediately put the hammer down with his UAE Teammates. 

“Up the Poggio, when I was following his attack, it was like racing a zombie,” Pidcock told The Guardian. “He was white, white skinsuit, white shorts cut up, blood. He’s a demon. It was incredible.”

Ultimately, Pidcock was agonisingly pipped in a tight sprint finish by Pogačar on the Via Roma at the end of nearly 300km of racing. 

“He [Pogačar] crashed, and he still dropped everyone in the race apart from me,” said Pidcock. “And we came to the line sprinting for the win. Obviously I was very frustrated with how close it was.”

Despite the disappointment, Pidcock held nothing but admiration for the World Champion after one of his most iconic performances of an illustrious career so far. 

“Honestly, I have so much respect for him after that. He could have easily thrown in a towel. He got up. And he still won the race. That was a really incredible thing," said Pidcock.

Pidcock was then asked about Pogačar’s dominance and critiques that it makes the sport boring, and the British rider gave a classic Pidcock unfiltered response. “Well, you have to embrace and accept it,” said Pidcock. “But they’re not wrong, are they?”

Things went awry for Pidcock a few weeks later when he crashed into a ravine at the Volta a Catalunya at the end of March.

Upon his return, Pidcock won a stage at the Tour of the Alps and, more recently, maintained his perfect elite record at the Nové Město MTB World Cup round for the fifth time. 

Attention now turns towards his Tour de France preparations after a year’s absence. Last season, Pidcock rode the Vuelta a España, finishing third and securing his first Grand Tour podium. The Pinarello-Q36.5 rider discussed his Grand Tour ambitions and where they stand in the importance of his career overall. 

“The Grand Tour thing doesn’t really excite me so much, but it’s an achievement,” said Pidcock. “If I manage to win a Grand Tour it will be the biggest achievement in my career, because for me to concentrate for three weeks is difficult.”

Pidcock also alluded to his other ambitions on the road, which include the Road World Championships and more Olympic medals, as well as his planned retirement date. 

“But I want to win the road worlds. Then I will have won all three disciplines. And the gravel worlds, actually, but if that never happens I’m not so bothered. I want a Monument. And for sure, I’m going for three Olympic medals. My goal is to finish my career after five Olympics, so after the 2036 Olympic Games I’ll retire.”

The Vuelta podium has given Pidcock plenty of confidence in his ability, but particularly his mental state to manage a three-week race in an optimal mindset. 

“Everything I’ve ever achieved in my career, I’ve always imagined doing it first before I’ve done it. I’ve never done anything out of the blue, like magic. So having that stepping stone, I know I can be on the podium again," said Pidcock. 

“I’m not saying that I have the ability right now to beat Tadej and [Paul] Seixas and [Jonas] Vingegaard. But in the right situation, I can see it happening. And with the right situation, I can win a Grand Tour.”

Pidcock is set to ride the Tour de Suisse alongside Pogačar before the Tour kicks off in Barcelona with a TTT on July 4.