Race news

'We got outsmarted today' - Pidcock best of rest behind UAE exhibition in Murcia

Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) had to settle for third place on his first race day of the 2026 season after a UAE Team Emirates-XRG heist on the shortened stage 1 of the Vuelta a Murcia.

February 13 2026 - 5:00 PM

Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) Vuelta a Murcia stage 2

Cor Vos

High winds had seen the race distance more than halved to just over 83km, and UAE were immediately on the offensive when the action finally got under way, with Tim Wellens’ attack splintering the race. UAE also had Marc Soler and Julius Johansen in the front group, and they would forge clear with 40km to go to finish first and second on the stage.

Pidcock found himself in a disparate group of chasers behind, but they were never able to get back on terms with the UAE tandem out in front. The Briton still showcased his form by attacking alone on the final climb of Alto Virgen del Castillo to take third on stage, 40 seconds down on Soler.

Speaking to Eurosport at the finish, Pidcock explained that he had been on the back foot for much of the short, intense stage.

“I think the big problem today was that we struggled with our radios a little bit,” Pidcock said. “And when Tim [Wellens] attacked, I was taking a chill, and then it was a bit late. In front, they went full gas. In the end, it was so fast you couldn’t bring back that time gap. They did a perfect race, really.

“I thought if it was crosswind for the last 25k and if we could work together there, then we could bring them back, but it was actually a bit more tailwind. Still, I don’t think we could bring them back anyway. I don’t think we brought any time back, and they were still 40 seconds in front at the finish.”

The Vuelta a Murcia is Pidcock’s first race of 2026 after an extended spell of altitude training in Chile. He will also ride the Clásica Jaén and the Ruta del Sol next week as he builds towards Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, his lone cobbled Classic of the Spring.

Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo and the Ardennes Classics are also on his schedule, and he will then lead Pinarello-Q36.5 in their Tour de France debut.

“To be honest, I’m pretty happy with my legs and how I felt there in the end in my first race,” Pidcock said. “I can’t complain too much, but we got outsmarted today.”