Latest news with #Strade
New Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Rejuvenated Pidcock relishing Giro d'Italia debut
DURRES (ALBANIA): Britain's double Olympic mountain bike champion Tom Pidcock, enjoying a new lease of life after his split with Ineos Grenadiers, has said he cannot wait to start his hunt for stage wins on his debut at the Giro d'Italia. Pidcock admitted he had become disenchanted on the road before his fall-out with the British team last year but a move to the fledgling Q36.5 Pro Team has worked wonders. Let off the leash by the Swiss team, 25-year-old all-rounder Pidcock won the AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia at the start of the year, was third at the Vuelta a Andalucia and came second to Tadej Pogacar at Strade Bianche in Italy. Known for his pure racer's mentality and willingness to take risks, Pidcock said he will be going full gas from day one in the Giro which starts in Albania today. The opening stage, a hilly 160km trek from Durres with a technical and punchy circuit around Tirana to finish, could be a prime opportunity for Pidcock to grab the leaders' maglia rosa. "The main reason I've come here is to get stuck in every day, to enjoy racing the Giro and opportunities will come if I do that," Pidcock said on the eve of the race. "I've got shape coming out of the Ardennes Classics and I'm looking forward to taking that into the race. "I think Strade definitely was a big performance as it showed I've got closer. Tadej is on another level – the only guy beating him is Mathieu (van der Poel) on his terrain – so I think Strade was definitely a confidence boost." Q36.5 are a second-tier team but have been given a wildcard into the Giro and will be contesting their first Grand Tour with Pidcock as their main man. He said the move had given him the opportunity to take more responsibility. "I like being responsible for everything, for my own destiny, if you like," he said. "It's a big responsibility which helps me to get the most out of myself. "I have a good relationship with Italy, I won the Baby Giro (in 2020), and it (the Giro) is a race I've wanted to do for a while. I wanted to do it last year and I'm excited I've got the opportunity now." - REUTERS
The Guardian
08-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Tadej Pogacar picks himself up after crash to rule Strade Bianche again
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar won the men's Strade Bianche on Saturday for the third time in his career, after recovering from a fall 50km from the finish. Pogacar topped the podium by 1min 24sec ahead of second-placed Briton Tom Pidcock, with Belgium's Tim Wellens a further 48sec adrift. After victory in the Tuscan one-day race in 2022 and 2024, the 26-year-old Pogacar now equals Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara's record of three victories in the race. 'Pretty good race today. The race was super fast. It was a really strong breakaway and our guys did super amazing work in the front,' said Pogacar, who completed the 213km race in 5hr 13min. 'We just went fast and it was a really hard race.' After falling off his bike at a corner on a descent, Pogacar displayed several cuts to his body with blood notably visible on his left shoulder. 'I enjoyed it until I crossed the finish line. Now I'm in adrenaline wear-off and I start to feel a lot of pain,' he said. Dutch rider Demi Vollering powered to victory in the women's race, earning her second career victory in the Strade. Vollering completed the 136km circuit around Tuscany in 3hr 49min in front of her compatriot Anna van der Breggen in second, with France's Pauline Ferrand-Prévot a further 1min 24sec behind. 'I'm super happy, I knew I was good beforehand of course and everybody expected it from me before the race already started, but then to do it is another thing,' Vollering told TNT Sports. 'You have so much pressure and you really, really want to finish it off. Not only for yourself, but for your teammates, family, friends, everybody who is behind you. 'To finish it off here, like I did today thanks to the work from all my team-mates, I'm super happy and proud I could do it,' added Vollering, who also won the Strade in 2023. Vollering, who joined French team FDJ-Suez from SD Worx in the close-season, made her move on the last of the 13 gravel road sections with 12km to go. Only Van der Breggen, who at the age of 34 has resumed her career this season after having been part of the SD Worx management team for three seasons, where she worked with Vollering, managed to go with her but the Dutch rider cracked on the brutal final ascent in Siena. 'It's fun to race against Anna, it feels like the old days just when I started, so it's also a good reminder for myself how much I have grown over the years,' said Vollering. 'It's good to battle it out against her again.' Paris 2024 Olympic mountain bike gold medallist Ferrand-Prévot is also making her return to road cycling this season. After leading an earlier breakaway, she was eventually reeled in by Vollering and her FDJ-Suez teammates, but held on to claim a place on the podium.
