Evenepoel and van Aert dominate, Pidcock struggles after altitude training: "Did he win? Oh well, there you go"
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Follow us on GoogleTom Pidcock was undoubtedly one of the top names on the start list for the Brabantse Pijl, but it wasn't the British rider from Q36.5 who set the pace and won the race. Remco Evenepoel triumphed after a one-on-one sprint against Wout van Aert, with Pidcock crossing the line utterly exhausted in 11th place. Surprisingly, he was pretty satisfied with that result.
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Until Milan-Sanremo, Pidcock was certainly one of the sensational riders of 2025. After switching from INEOS Grenadiers to Q36.5, he kicked off with two stage wins, an overall victory in the AlUla Tour, and a stage in the Ruta del Sol. In Strade Bianche, he daringly challenged Tadej Pogacar and finished second before competing for stage wins almost every day in the Tirreno-Adriatico and finishing sixth overall.
After a disappointing Milan-Sanremo due to a minor crash, Pidcock headed to Andorra, where he also lives, for altitude training. Q36.5 was awarded wildcards for the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España during that period, but Pidcock focuses first on the Ardennes classics. He returned to competitive racing in the Brabantse Pijl, a race he won in 2021, but it was just a warm-up.
Read more below the photo.
Tom Pidcock
Pidcock always finds it difficult to come back after a period of training
Still panting from his sprint in the chasing group, Pidcock stood in front of the Eurosport camera after finishing eleventh. "I wasn't surprised that Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert attacked in the first local lap, no. They had the teammates to shake things up, and the first lap here is always where it happens. I lacked a bit of explosiveness today. It went well, but I was suffering when it got really serious."
Pidcock, ill for a few days after Milan-Sanremo, is not panicking. He should normally be better in the Amstel Gold Race (which he won last year), the Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. "It's okay; I always struggle a bit in my first race after a period of training. I can't come back like Remco, although I'm not even sure if he won. Yeah? Oh well, there you go. I can be satisfied, but there's work to be done."
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- If he finished ninth at the Tour, why didn’t he get a stage win too? I’m still trying to understand how the overall standings work.julien11-11-2026
- No ‘cross at all this winter? That’s a shame, but with his road season starting in February, I can see why he’d want a proper break. Does stepping away mean he’s done with cyclocross for good?gearguru3311-11-2026
- I like the honesty of that training post. Even the best riders feel the difference after a few weeks off, and he’s got plenty of time to build back up.samanthak11-11-2026
- Three sets of tyres in two days at the Nürburgring! The man clearly doesn’t do anything by halves. Bet a winter without cyclocross will feel strange, though.bikebuffj11-11-2026
- Fifth in the world rankings after that autumn run is some achievement. Pidcock was so aggressive at the Tour, too—hopefully he can turn a few of those near-misses into wins inpatriciaw11-11-2026
- Does XEFI’s investment mean the team will have more money to sign riders, or is it mainly a sponsorship and naming change? And is Roglič expected to race much next season?jeremya11-11-2026
- If the roster is nearly complete, why bring up Roglič at all? Feels like the article is turning a firm “no” into a transfer rumour.andrewf11-11-2026
- Wuling is no joke—105 km of climbing to 3,275 metres is brutal. Five minutes off Dyball’s record is still an incredible ride.velodromevirtuoso111-11-2026
- Roglič at TotalEnergies would be a fascinating move, but Heulot sounds pretty clear that it isn’t happening. His experience could be a massive boost for the younger riders, though.jennifer1911-11-2026
- Eight riders told to go for stages, and nobody gets one—hard to know what the plan was there. It’ll be interesting to see whether they pick a clear leader next time.bikebuffj10-11-2026