Disappointed Tom Pidcock breaks the taboo in Vuelta: "A lot of people hold back talking about it publicly, but it is a bit scary sometimes in the peloton"
CyclingFriday, 05 September 2025 at 13:32
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Follow us on GoogleAnyone who watched Wednesday’s stage eleven of the Vuelta a España probably felt some sympathy for Tom Pidcock. The Brit from Q36.5 proved stronger than everyone, Jonas Vingegaard included, on the Alto de Pike, but due to the protests at the finish line, he couldn’t turn that into a result.
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Pidcock launched a blistering attack on the Pike and rode away from the competition, but by then it had already been announced that the finish area wasn’t safe enough and that there would be no stage winner. Times were instead recorded 3 kilometers before the line, but for the Brit that was little more than a consolation prize.
Pidcock still crossed the finish line, alone. A protest of his own? "I was just doing a Tom Pidcock thing, innit? But, no, I knew the finish line was at 3K, but I actually didn't know when 3K was. I was too busy rotating with Jonas. I think Vuelta did what they could, the organization, to keep us safe. I don’t want to say anything political. I’m going to get in trouble."
Read more below the tweet.
Pidcock believes there should have been a finish
“To be honest, it’s hard to put my disappointment into words,” Q36.5 leader Tom Pidcock told his team bus and TNT Sports. “I felt like today was my day. I feel like, there should always be a finish line. We're not riding sportive, are we?", he said, scratching his head.
Pidcock could at least take away the fact that he dropped Vingegaard, but he also doesn’t know what the coming days will bring in light of the current situation. “I think a lot of people have, held back from talking about it publicly, but it is a bit scary sometimes in the peloton. But, I think as long as our safety is first and, you know, we can continue racing, and that's what we're here to do."
Read more below the tweet.
Pidcock hopes things will improve from now on
“I think bike racing's got nothing to do with what's happening over there. Putting us in danger isn’t going to help your cause. That simply isn’t going to help what they're protesting for. Everyone’s got the right to protest whatever they want. But, putting us in danger is not the way forward. From what I was told, today was going to be the biggest day of protesters. So, I think from now on it might be better,” he said in Bilbao.
"I think a lot of people talk about what's on paper, not saying I would have won, but I had a good chance to win. And it’s a disappointment, but don't want to waste any energy on it. We've got a long way to go,” the Brit concluded.
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Tom van der Salm (27) comes from the charming town of Zeilberg (Deurne) in the Netherlands and has been working as editor-in-chief & journalist at IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, In de Leiderstrui, since 2019. He travels with the peloton from the Tour de France to the AlUla Tour and from the World Championships in Rwanda or Canada to the Zilvermeercross in Mol. In his spare time he enjoys playing football, mountain biking, running, walking with his Labrador/Stabyhoun, investing, holidays, (specialty) beers, reading, cooking and watching sports & documentaries!
Contact: [email protected]
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Latest Comments
- - Grande artículo, pero una duda: if “you don’t have to be the strongest to win,” does that mean we’ll see more negative racing? Seems a bit defeatist, no?raceready715-09-2026
- - Not sure about naming Del Toro and Seixas as top favorites over MvdP and WVA. Feels a tad contrarian—class usually tells in a 270k attrition day.michael5415-09-2026
- - Love the honesty from Pidcock. Montreal GP as a dress rehearsal makes sense—those last two laps bite. If GB keeps numbers late, he’s got a real medal shout.julien15-09-2026
- No matter the results, the intervening difficulties, or even the crashes, including two within minutes of each other last month when Sepp appeared headed for a long-hoped for stage win at the Tour de France, Seth Kuss always finds a reason to be grateful, an an ability to project positivity and a smile. Chapeau to Sepp,rjb13-09-2026
- Pogi is the Road Warrior par excellence. Come back even stronger much to the chagrin of all other competitors.
Brucegel12-09-2026 - - Félicitations in advance si ça se concrétise. Line-up looks très britannique mais con ambición grande. Tour 2027 en Edimbourg sería épico si les invitan.gearguru3310-09-2026
- - Vamos Ethan! Breakaway king of this Vuelta and super combative. Today’s flat chrono is perfect terrain—just keep it clean through the Jerez crosswinds.breakawaybikerd10-09-2026
- - Bit cautious here. Hayter’s had stop-start seasons with crashes/illness and I still don’t know if he’s a GC week-long guy or a TT/sprint hybrid. Curious whether they build around him or Pidcock first.pedalpowe2910-09-2026
- - Hayter’s engine + Q5’s growing train could smash team TTs and medium sprint stages. Mauro Schmid + Bittner coming too? That’s a nasty lead-out combo if they gel.cyclechamp4510-09-2026
- - Can someone explain how ProTeams get Tour invites? If Q5 aren’t automatic, what results do they need—UCI points, one-day wins, or stage race podiums? Confused how that process works.samanthak10-09-2026
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