Tom Pidcock finished tenth in the UCI Road World Championships road race in Rwanda, in what he called "the toughest race of the year." The Briton, fresh from his podium at the Vuelta a España, had a day of ups and downs in the grueling 268km race on the streets of Kigali.

"I wasn't feeling very good at the start," Pidcock confessed to Cyclingnews. "Then I got into my racing rhythm, but by the end I completely exploded. It was pure survival all the way to the finish. It was absolutely brutal."

The 26-year-old rider had a bright spot when he found himself in the chasing pack behind winner Tadej Pogačar, finishing within 50 seconds of the Slovenian. "At that moment, when there were five of us behind Tadej, I thought anything was possible," he explained. "But then my legs gave out."

Despite not achieving the desired result, Pidcock wasn't particularly disappointed: "I didn't put any pressure on myself. I had the Vuelta in mind, and I came here in the best possible way. I was in the race, so I can't complain if my legs gave out."

The Briton did, however, highlight one positive aspect, noting that he left the Vuelta in his best ever Grand Tour form: "I think I was the best of those who came out of the Vuelta. You can't have everything in this sport. I gave it my all, as I said I would, and that's it."

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