Ineos Grenadier Tom Pidcock is better known for his daring downhill descending skills, but the young Brit has now also a one-day classic to his palmares, the 2023 Strade Bianche.
Crossing the line solo, some 20-seconds ahead of nearest rivals Valentin Madouas (Groupama FDJ) and Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo Visma), 23yo Pidcock won the 187km ‘white road classic’ in sensational style.
“Honestly it’s going to take some sinking in,” he said, shortly after crossing the line in Siena’s Piazza del Campo.
“This week I had a good feeling and I knew something good was going to happen,” he continued. “I knew today was my day. That it actually paid off is pretty incredible honestly. I don’t even know what to think right now.
“A few times they came close and I thought ‘I’ve messed it up, I’ve gone too early and wasted my shot here.’ The thing is in races like this, the day was so fast all day, I thought if I get a gap and keep going it’s hard to bring back.”
Vollering Wins Women’s Strade Bianche
There was a thrilling result – albeit in a very different scenario – in the Women’s Strade Bianche with SD Worx riders Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky in the two-rider finale and both sprinting for the line.
It took some time for the photo finish to be assessed, with Vollering announced winner as she was speaking to reporters.
“It was a crazy final,” she said. “I attacked and felt like ‘this is the moment’ and just went how we discussed because this was the plan,” she said.
“Then, suddenly, Lotte was with me, and that was very nice, it’s just teammates together and then you can also go a bit deeper together.”