‘Looking to Expand on Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Performance,’ Says Pidcock
After securing a top-five position in 2023, Tom Pidcock entered Omloop Het Nieuwsblad feeling strong and fit. However, the race took an unexpected turn when Matteo Jorgenson initiated a decisive move on the Wolvenberg around 50km from the finish. This move formed a formidable group of six riders, including Pidcock, Wout Van Aert, Christophe Laporte, Arnaud De Lie, and Toms Skuijns.
Reflecting on the unpredictable nature of the race, Pidcock commented, “You can’t be surprised at anything nowadays. When the race split early on, you hope that those are the final 25 guys. But at the finish, two riders you hadn’t seen all day are away. It’s crazy how it unfolds, and you don’t give up in these races.”
The dynamics continued to shift, with Pidcock dropping from the lead group on the Muur van Geraardsbergen. The reshuffling continued, leading to a chaotic lead-in to the final ten kilometers. The race-winning move came at approximately 9km to go, courtesy of Jan Tratnik and Nils Politt, securing a break that held until the end. Meanwhile, Wout Van Aert claimed the remaining podium spot in a sprint from a group of around 30, with Pidcock finishing in eighth place.
Summing up the challenging day, Pidcock acknowledged the impact of the wind and noted, “The race was open after 30-40km. We spent the day in the wind. I ran out of legs a little at the finish. I’m satisfied with being in the front; we did well as a team at the start and positioned ourselves correctly with four riders in front. We can build on that.”
Looking ahead, Pidcock is gearing up for the upcoming Italian block of road racing, beginning with Strade Bianche next Saturday, followed by Tirreno-Adriatico from March 4-10 and concluding with Milan-San Remo on March 16.
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