The final confirmed assembly of the “massive three” riders of cyclocross on the Koksijde spherical of the X2O Trophy on Thursday is off because the occasion has been knowledgeable that Tom Pidcock is ailing and might be unable to compete. He additionally cancelled a deliberate begin on the Hexia Cross in Gullegem on Saturday.
It could have been the ultimate probability for World Champion Mathieu van der Poel to face off in opposition to the 2 former world champions, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers). There might be a rematch on the Benidorm World Cup on January 21, 2024, ought to Van Aert select to race there.
Pidcock suffered within the opening ‘cross race of the 12 months on the GP Sven Nys in Baal, the place he dropped behind the chasing group and completed twelfth, some 5 minutes adrift of Van der Poel.
“We obtained an e-mail this afternoon from Tom Pidcock’s entourage. The Brit is ailing and due to this fact can not begin,” the race organisers confirmed to Het Laatste Nieuws.Â
“We, in fact, remorse this, however the well being of the rider comes first. It is a disgrace that we do not have the ‘Large Three’ at first, however our subject of members ought to nonetheless be good. Lars van der Haar, the chief within the rankings, can also be current alongside the cream of the cyclo-cross world.”
Pidcock began the ‘cross season sturdy with a podium in Herentals and a victory within the Namur World Cup in mid-December, and overcame a earlier sickness set him again earlier than the December 8 Antwerp World Cup. After two podiums in Gavere and Diegem, Pidcock crashed and completed twenty fifth within the World Cup in Hulst earlier than his off-day on New 12 months’s Day.
The ‘cross peloton may also be lacking Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), who ended up within the hospital after an intestinal an infection brought about extreme dehydration. He’ll lose his second place within the X2O Trophy classification however hopes to get better to be able to compete within the Zonhoven World Cup on Sunday to defend his lead within the sequence.
