The British rider arrives in Montreal with the best chance of his career to win the rainbow jersey on the road, thanks to the experience gained at the Montreal GP.
Tom Pidcock already has seven world titles – three in cyclocross, four in mountain biking – and two Olympic gold medals under his belt, but he comes to the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal with what he calls the “best opportunity of my career” to capture the coveted rainbow jersey in Sunday’s men’s elite road race.
Already decorated in every youth category at the World Championships, with a complete collection of junior, under-23, and elite titles in cyclocross, as well as under-23 and e-MTB gold medals and two elite gold medals in mountain bike cross-country, Pidcock has had a more challenging road career. His under-23 bronze medal at home in Yorkshire, beaten in a sprint by Samuele Battistella and Stefan Bissegger, remains his best youth finish. As an elite, his record is a sixth-place finish in Leuven in 2021.
Since then, however, the British rider has improved enormously on the road: a stage at the Tour de France on Alpe d'Huez in 2022, the Strade Bianche in 2023 and the Amstel Gold Race in 2024 have established him as one of the big favourites for Montreal.
"I think becoming the Road World Champion would be something really incredible for my career, because it's going to be incredibly tough to win," Pidcock told a small group of reporters at his training camp in Colorado this week. "I think this is my best chance yet, that's for sure."
Sports journalist and cycling enthusiast, following professional cycling for over 10 years. Collaborates with FantaCycling to bring you the best analysis and news from the world of cycling.
Race boss Marc Reef analyses the route: two long time trials, three mountain finishes and a Pyrenean stage that could decide the Grande Boucle.
Britain's Grand Départ opens a Grande Boucle with the most time trial mileage since 2012 and a grueling Pyrenean finish, as Pogačar aims for a record sixth seal
Nine stages, starting from the United Kingdom, a new team time trial and a double final act in the Massif Central: here's what to expect, even for fantasy cycling
The stage racer wants to grow in one-day races as well, with the Haute-Savoie World Championships in his sights. Ralph Denk approves, but warns: "It's a delicate balance."
