Forward of the 2023-24 cyclocross season debut in Herentals later this afternoon, Tom Pidcock has acknowledged that he’ll “totally focus” on the final classification on the Tour de France subsequent summer time.
The Briton is about to race a restricted cyclocross marketing campaign this winter, taking in 10 races from the X2O Trofee occasion in Herentals to the UCI World Cup in Benidorm in late January. Like Wout van Aert, he’ll minimize his season brief with a view to flip focus to the highway season, with the Volta ao Algarve his possible start line.
Chatting with Sporza earlier than reconning the circuit in Herentals, Pidcock mentioned that he needs to “show himself” on the Tour de France, having received atop L’Alpe d’Huez and brought Sixteenth- and Thirteenth-place finishes at his two earlier participations.
“I need to show myself within the Tour de France,” Pidcock mentioned earlier than heading out to recon the course of the season’s third X2O Trofee spherical. “Final yr I did not know what I needed and with the workforce, I did not have the clear purpose of why I used to be there. I paid the worth for that and I got here away with nothing.
“This yr I’ll totally concentrate on the final classification. Then hopefully I come away from the Tour very effectively for the Olympics.”
Pidcock, who in 2023 received Strade Bianche and the penultimate stage of the Volta ao Algarve in addition to the mountain bike cross-country world title, mentioned that he hasn’t set a precise GC purpose for the Tour but. He famous that might develop into clearer after beginning his stage racing marketing campaign.
“For me, prime 10 is not actually a motivation,” he mentioned. “My purpose will develop into clearer after just a few stage races earlier within the yr. I imagine in myself greater than I did final yr for a very good consequence, however I’ll wait to reply particularly later.”
Pidcock additionally confirmed that he will not lengthen his cyclocross season into February to tackle the UCI World Championships in Tabor.
The 2022 world champion will be a part of Wout van Aert in avoiding the occasion, although Mathieu van der Poel – additionally beginning his season on Saturday – shall be taking goal at an eighth world title and racing a fuller marketing campaign within the build-up, too.
“It is going to be a protracted summer time with the Tour de France and the Olympics. It is going to be tough to race so late within the yr with the cyclocross World Championships,” Pidcock mentioned.
“If I’m going to the World Championships, I’ve to organize 100% – for the respect for the occasion. I do not need to undergo that, mentally it is tough.
“Wout misplaced final yr and mentioned that was tough for him in the course of the highway season. So, I need to benefit from the Christmas interval and put together for the highway season.”
