Great Britain Cycling Team’s Tom Pidcock has ridden his way into the history books by becoming the first British male to ever reach the elite men’s podium at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Dubendorf, Switzerland, earlier today.
The 20-year-old Yorkshireman finished with the silver medal, completing a successful debut season having taken an early step up to compete in the elite men’s category.
Pidcock rode a great race, getting off to a strong start and staying with the race favourites vying for second place throughout the first three laps.
An attack on lap four saw Pidcock distance himself from the chasing group and he was able to stay away for the rest of the race to claim the silver medal. Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel was dominant from the start to win his third world title, with Toon Aerts from Belgium clinching bronze.
Speaking after the race, Pidcock said: “To be honest, I didn’t think I’d be that strong. I knew this course and these conditions would suit me. It was incredible. The number of fans who have come over is unbelievable and shows how much the sport has grown. It’s nice to be able to represent Britain in the elite race.”
It was bronze for Anna Kay in the under-23 women’s race, with France’s Marion Norbert-Riberolle storming her way to the rainbow stripes.
Kay was in the chase group sitting in ninth place after the first lap but was able to work her way through the field and led the chase at various points of the race. Hungary’s Kata Blanka Vas and Kay battled it out for second place, with Vas crossing the line first to take the silver medal.
“I’m over the moon, I didn’t expect it at all! The course, I wasn’t really confident on it, so just really pleased. – I couldn’t have imagined having a better season, and to finish like this it’s been amazing,” said Kay after the race.
Hattie Harnden also produced a great ride for 11th position, having chased the group of Anna Kay in the early stages, she was left to fight it out for a top-ten finish.
Rory McGuire produced the best result in the junior men’s race for Great Britain, finishing in ninth position. The young-Scot had a great start to the race making his way up to sixth position early in the race, before dropping back.
He said, “It was such a brutal course and I made a few mistakes, so yeah happy with that. - I went super deep at the start because I knew once they’re going, they’re gone, I probably went a bit too hard, as in the middle [of the race] I went backwards but I saved a bit for the end.”
Oli Stockwell and Joe Kiely produced a brilliant ride to work their way up having started on the 5th row. Stockwell and Kiely worked as a duo almost, taking it in turns to attack the field.
Stockwell went on the finish 11th and Kiely 15th, followed in by fellow Brits, Corran Carrick-Anderson in 20th and Ben Chilton 30th.
Well I’m no longer u23 world champ. But I’m now second best in the world Today feels pretty special @TrinityRacing_ pic.twitter.com/k0AQbMoBJw
— Tom Pidcock (@Tompid) February 2, 2020
