Tom Pidcock spoke of his frustration after a fourth-row begin and a slipped chain resulted within the British star dropping invaluable time, earlier than combating again to complete third within the UCI Cyclocross World Cup spherical in Gavere on Tuesday.
The previous cyclocross world champion was competing in his fourth race of a shortened ‘cross season as he focuses on different objectives throughout the highway and mountain bike disciplines subsequent 12 months.
Regardless of profitable the UCI Cyclocross World Cup spherical in Namur 9 days earlier the Briton was pressured to start out properly down the grid in Gavere.
The muddy course, which featured a treacherous descent, resulted in a frantic opening lap with the Ineos Grenadiers discovering himself in twenty ninth place.
Rivals Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert battled on the entrance in the course of the opening laps ensuing within the race fragmenting and Pidcock being caught behind.
After the third of seven laps, the British rider discovered himself in eighth place and 1:20 behind solo chief Van der Poel.
Pidcock continued his cost to the entrance finally ending third 58 seconds behind winner Van der Poel and simply 22 seconds behind Van Aert.
“It was a bit annoying actually,” stated Pidcock. “At the beginning, it wasn’t like I had a foul begin, I simply had nowhere to go. Then I used to be in tenth place on the second lap after which my chain got here off.
“I used to be once more behind. I spent all day chasing, at one level I used to be using fairly quick. Ultimately, I used to be making a number of errors, however at the least I am on the rostrum.
“Perhaps within the first lap, I wasted a little bit of vitality making an attempt to undergo gaps that maybe weren’t there. That was the one probability to even attempt to win right this moment.
“It was only a disgrace in regards to the begin, it could have been good to be on the entrance racing from the start. However all in all, I rode race.”
After profitable in Namur, an sickness impacted Pidcock’s coaching earlier than Saturday’s race in Antwerp during which he completed eighth.
The 24-year-old confirmed combating spirit to battle for a podium within the closing laps in Gavere. On the midpoint, the Briton was 24 seconds behind the Baloise Trek Lions duo of Joris Nieuwenhuis and Lars Van der Haar.
On the penultimate lap, Pidcock reached the duo earlier than sliding out on an off-camber nook and having to journey again to the pair.
Coming into the final lap Pidcock battled with Nieuwenhuis earlier than powering away from the Dutch rider on the ultimate sections, his competitor ending with a flat tyre.
Regardless of matching the lap occasions of winner Van der Poel the Ineos Grenadiers rider fears that the Alpecin–Deceuninck rider could have the sting after they meet once more in Diegem in two days.
“Mathieu (Van der Poel) was sturdy right this moment,” stated Pidcock. “We all know that Mathieu (Van der Poel) might be the strongest in the intervening time on each course. He’s world champion for a cause.”
After ending a solo second in Gavere, Van Aert is again in motion tomorrow (Wednesday) in Heusden-Zolder and can miss Diegem.
