'We'll see if anyone tries to block the road on the Cipressa' - Pidcock's rule book shake up for Sanremo

It’s understandable that Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel have front billing for Milan-Sanremo on Saturday as the duo rise to the fore in almost every big race that they participate in as the key protagonists.

Last year’s edition of La Primavera saw the duo rip up the rule book alongside Filippo Ganna when they surged clear of the peloton and were not to be seen again until after the finish on the Via Roma, where Van der Poel won for the second time in his career.

Behind, Tom Pidcock rued missing out on the opportunity after crashing at the foot of the Cipressa at the crucial moment where the race kicked off, and had to settle for 40th. The British rider blamed the incident on himself, highlighting his positioning, and outlined once more how crucial the climb could be again on Saturday.

“Yeah, that’s what I hope,” Pidcock told CyclingProNetat the team presentation on Friday when he was asked about being in the mix come the Cipressa. “It was bad luck [last year], but you make your own luck. I was too far back into the Cipressa, I lost the wheel of Mark [Donovan], so that was kind of my fault.”

“You have to make your own luck, and little mistakes cost you the race here. So hopefully no mistakes tomorrow, and then we will see. But for sure, it’s going to be important into the Cipressa, I think.”

It’s been a positive start to the season for Pidcock, and this fact was re-established on Wednesday when he punched his way up the Superga climb to win Milano-Torino, the oldest standing race. In the process, he became just the second British rider to win, following Mark Cavendish in 2022. 

If Pidcock were to win Milan-Sanremo, he would also become the third British rider to do so, behind Tom Simpson in 1964 and Cavendish in 2009. The win has given Pidcock plenty of confidence, but he remains realistic about the different nature of the challenge ahead and the competition that he will face.

“For sure, it’s great that I could win this week coming into this race, I mean, as you say, it couldn’t be much better. It’s a little bit different tomorrow, but for sure it gives me some confidence.”

Pidcock also gave his insight into how other teams can race to limit the damage from an inevitable Tadej Pogačar or Mathieu van der Poel attack, explaining how the fight for position into the Cipressa could be decisive. 

“Some teams need to start changing the rule book,” said Pidcock. "Everyone thinks that to work for your teammates, you need to ride faster, so we’ll see if anyone tries to block the road on the Cipressa. That’s a good tactic if you're not Tadej [Pogačar].”

This is set to be Pidcock's fifth appearance at the first Monument of the season. 2024 saw the British rider claim his best result, 11th. But this doesn't tell the full story, as he was agonisingly caught just a few hundred metres from the finish line on the Via Roma after making a late attack in the closing kilometres. 

With the current form of Pidcock, a career-high performance at Milan-Sanremo could be on the cards for the British rider.