'I'm in no rush' - Olympic champion Tom Pidcock not ready for General Classification challenge at Vuelta a Espana
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ByEurosport
Published 27/07/2021 at 12:14 GMT
“I'm in no rush to commit to a Grand Tour," Olympic mountain bike gold medallist Tom Pidcock said. "I mean, the plan is to do the Vuelta now, so tomorrow I'll go out and do a long ride because I'm not going to have that many days [to prepare]. I'm not in a rush to fully commit to a Grand Tour. I think the thing I've got is time on my side."
'What a ride!' - Imperious Pidcock wins mountain bike gold for Team GB
Fresh from his brilliant Olympic Games gold in mountain bike, Tom Pidcock has said he is in no rush to morph into a Grand Tour contender on the road.
Pidcock’s potential has long been known, and in 2021 he has turned it into tangible big-race success both on the road and cross country.
On the road with his Ineos Grenadiers team, Pidcock beat Wout van Aert in a sprint finish to land Brabanste Pijl - and was narrowly denied by the brilliant Belgian in Amstel Gold.
The 21-year-old - Pidcock turns 22 on July 30 - shifted his attentions to the cyclo-cross and mountain bike in late spring, and showed his star potential with a dominant display to take Gold in Tokyo.
Pidcock has long been billed as a rider capable of competing on General Classification at the Grand Tours, and he will get his first taste of a three-week race in the Vuelta a Espana next month.
Expectations are not high, with it likely Pidcock will be taught the skills of riding a three-week race, and he is no rush to challenge the likes of Tadej Pogacar at the summit of the sport.
“I'm in no rush to commit to a Grand Tour," Pidcock told Cycling Weekly. "I mean, the plan is to do the Vuelta now, so tomorrow I'll go out and do a long ride because I'm not going to have that many days [to prepare].
“I'm not in a rush to fully commit to a Grand Tour. I think the thing I've got is time on my side.”
The Vuelta a Espana gets underway on August 14 with a 7.1km individual time-trial.
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