Tom Pidcock: Diegem was 'easiest' race of Christmas cyclocross schedule

British Thomas Tom Pidcock crosses the finish line at the men elite race of the Superprestige Diegem 6th stage out of 8 in the Superprestige cyclocross cycling competition in Diegem Wednesday 28 December 2022BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS Photo by JASPER JACOBS BELGA MAG Belga via AFP Photo by JASPER JACOBSBELGA MAGAFP via Getty Images
World champion Tom Pidcock finishes second at the Superprestige Diegem (Image credit: Getty Images)

Wout van Aert reckoned the intensity of his battle with Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel at Superprestige Diegem on Wednesday night was “could not be healthy," not least because it was their third race in as many days. Pidcock, who placed second to the Belgian, politely disagreed.

“Honestly, I think this was the easiest race of the last three,” Pidcock told Sporza. “On the climb, we only went full on a few laps. It was a headwind on the climb, so when we were together, we were looking at each other. It’s just a shame I couldn’t pull it off.”

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.