Pidcock shares encouraging update after Catalunya ravine crash

Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) has shared a positive update on social media about his recovery following his crash at the Volta a Catalunya. 

The Pinarello-Q36.5 rider posted to social media on Saturday, sharing a series of images, including one of him on the road sporting his training kit, with the caption “There’s always a bright side. But it’s better to be riding my bike.”

Pidcock had made a very strong start to the campaign, winning a stage of the Vuelta a Andalucia as well as Milano-Torino, before coming within a tyre length of beating Tadej Pogačar at Milan-Sanremo after an exceptional ride.

The Volta a Catalunya served as an opportunity for Pidcock to test his climbing legs in preparation for a return to the Tour de France in the Summer. Things were going well for the British rider who sat second in the GC after four stages, thanks to a plethora of bonus seconds that Pidcock had accumulated. 

However, Pidcock misjudged a corner on a descent in the finale of stage 5, crashing down a ravine, describing himself as “very lucky”. The British rider was able to finish the stage, but was out of the GC picture and wouldn’t take to the start the following day due to the injuries sustained. 

Pidcock sustained bone bruising to the tibia and fibula, including small stress fractures, alongside a suspected injury to the anterolateral ligament with a small bone fragment pulled away at the attachment point.

In addition, Pidcock was also diagnosed with a moderate grade 2 injury to the medial collateral ligament, a sprain of the lateral collateral ligament, and significant swelling within the knee joint, and damage to his right wrist, a blow to his upcoming spring goals. 

It’s no secret that the Ardennes Classics are a big priority for the British rider. Pidcock is a former winner of both Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold Race, as well as a podium finisher at La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. 

Though it remains to be seen whether Pidcock will be fit enough to return in time for Brabantse Pijl on April 17, which remains the next race on his provisional schedule.

Speaking to Domestique earlier this month, Pinarello-Q36.5 Manager Doug Ryder indicated that the team would remain on the cautious side when it comes to recovery time, in order to avoid any long-term problems.

“We’d rather be a bit more cautious. The knee has many joints and facets to it, so you’ve got to be quite cautious around that,” said Ryder. “We’re being cautious to make sure that he has a good recovery, and we don’t push it too early.”

In terms of whether Pidcock would be fit for the Ardennes, Ryder was non-committal either way, explaining that there was a plan in place for both outcomes.

“It’s too soon to say,” Ryder said. “We’ve prepared for both circumstances, but it’s too soon to say when he could be back.”