Tom Pidcock — World Champion-2023

28/29 Gennaio 2023

Tom Pocock, 24, became the first British cyclist to win a gold medal in cross-country (XCO), mountain biking at the 2023 Cycling World Championships. 

On the track in the Scottish Glentress Forest, Tom Pidcock started from 55th position, moved forward to South African racer Alan Hatherly and 10-time world champion, Swiss racer Nino Schurter.

On the penultimate lap, Pidcock left them in the ascent. Alan Hayter couldn't stand the pace and fell out, and the representative of New Zealand Sam Gase (Sam Game) got the Swiss rider and beat him in the fight for the silver medal.   

Tom Pidcock beat Sam Gase by 19 seconds, Nino Schurter finished 34 seconds later.

Tom Pidcock: "The first five laps were going so fast that I had a hard time getting ahead from the position where I started. I knew from last year what to expect. The World Cup is a different level compared to the World Cup.

I rode the last few laps very nervous because the switches on the bike didn't work well. On the last lap, they jumped on every climb, I couldn't find a rhythm. And the Haze was getting closer. It seemed to me that at any moment everything could collapse. I was upset that I couldn't drive the way I wanted to, because I was afraid to change gears, I had to be careful. I don't know what happened.

As for the starting position, they came up with some nonsense. It wasn't my idea. I think it's outrageous. If they wanted to introduce such a rule, they had to do it from January 1. I sacrificed three weeks of preparation for the Tour de France to score points for the mountain bike. And this week they changed the rule.

It's hard to finish a Tour and immediately switch to an event like the World Cup, which is completely different. It's very difficult psychologically, although I love mountain biking."