Tom Pidcock admitted that he and his new Q36.5 teammates have “some improving to do” after now not coming into the important thing Muur van Geraardsbergen climb at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in superb place and simplest managing thirty eighth firstly of the Classics season.
It used to be nonetheless an total certain first WorldTour race for Pidcock on his new group after creating a flying begin to 2025, with the 25-year-old being lively during the 197km with first rate form and his end result simplest coming on account of racing coming again in combination for a dash.
With the sprinter’s groups being outstanding in bunch all over the general run for house and a powerful headwind discouraging a number of would-be attackers, Pidcock may just do little to utilise his punchy traits, particularly after lacking out at the climbs.
“I think from quite early on I saw that Alpecin did a really strong ride controlling the race, and there was not really anywhere to go,” Pidcock advised TNT post-race.
“I was trying to save myself for the Muur and the Bosberg, but then I entered the Muur way too far back. Every year, I’ve actually gone into the Muur in a little group off the front, and then the bunch has caught me.
“There may be now not truly the rest I may just do there. It’s kind of disappointing, however on the identical time, I more or less anticipated that nowadays. [My shape is] beautiful just right, I am alright, and I am somewhat recent.”
The Brit originally did well by getting into the front split over the Molenberg with 42km to go; however, when the crucial climb through Geraardsbergen up the Muur arrived with 16km remaining, he had ceded his ideal position at the front.
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He was forced to join the chase alongside the likes of Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) over the Bobserg, and eventually, their large chasing group rejoined the Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Matthias Vacek (Lidl-Trek)-led front split to play out the final 8km.
“The extent is tremendous top,” said Pidcock as he tried to explain why the racing stayed together. “There are such a large amount of just right riders, and that’s the reason all I will say.
“Normally, people’s legs fall off near the end. It’s a hard race, but today the weather was also pretty OK and not cold, so just a lot of good guys stayed in. Everyone has had a good winter.”
Pidcock has contested sprints at Omloop finishes in seasons long gone by way of, netting 5th in 2023 and 8th remaining 12 months in a host end; then again, he left the quick end as much as the purer rapid males this time.
“It was a strange Het Nieuwsblad. With Tom, we had some action with him, changing the front wheel twice, then he changed his shoe. But he felt good, and we brought him in a good position to the Eikenberg, which was for us a key section.”
Alternatively, the Brit’s sources have been dampened during the 197 kilometres, with two of his teammates, Frederik Frison and Kamil Małecki, ultimately now not completing because of a crash and Nickolas Zukowsky additionally having an premature puncture.
It used to be a ways from an ideal efficiency from the Swiss ProTeam, however they are going to simplest recover because the races come thick and rapid and their chief Pidcock will get used to running with and utilising his new teammates perfect.
“I think it’s difficult with a lot of guys that I’ve never raced with before,” mentioned the Brit. “You always have to learn how each other work. It’s a positive day, but we’ve got some improving to do.”
That subsequent probability to sing their own praises their synergy will come at Strade Bianche on March 8, a race Pidcock has received prior to. A go back to the Cobbled Classics later in spring stays “a big question mark” in line with Zemke, “but it’s possible.”
