Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleJuan Ayuso delivered a dominant performance for UAE Emirates-XRG in Tirreno-Adriatico’s queen stage on Saturday, but just behind him, Tom Pidcock secured an impressive runner-up finish for Q36.5. It was the Brit’s second second-place finish in this edition of the Italian stage race, moving him up to sixth in the general classification. Despite that, he admitted to feeling some frustration afterward.
ADVERTISEMENT
Where did that frustration come from? "To be honest, I could have stayed with Ayuso," the Q36.5 leader stated. "I wanted to pace myself a little more before the corner, so I let him go a bit. Ayuso was the strongest, but I really think I could have held his wheel—especially in the section just before the finale."
Still, the fact that he could even say that was a source of satisfaction. "I’ve never been this strong on a climb before. I’m a bit frustrated with the result, but pacing yourself on a climb like this is always difficult. My ceiling keeps getting higher, and I don’t know where it will stop. Right now, though, the frustration outweighs everything—especially because the team rode so well for me. I think I could have fought for the win."
Read more below the photo!
In addition to Pidcock, another rider from Q36.5 in the top ten
Barring a miracle, Tom Pidcock will not achieve his main goal for Tirreno-Adriatico. “I really wanted to win a stage, but I should also be happy with two second-place finishes. I’m also pleased with how the team performed—everybody was incredibly strong,” said Pidcock, who also praised teammate David de la Cruz for his impressive ride. “We’re both in the top ten, and we want to stay there.”
“It’s been a tough Tirreno-Adriatico, with the weather and all the difficult stages. As a team, we can be proud,” added De la Cruz. “I’m proud of the level I’ve reached here—it gives me a lot of confidence because I’m competing with the best riders in the race again. But the real highlight is how we’ve raced as a team. As a non-WorldTour squad, we’re competing for top results, and that shows how strong we are. I hope the organizers of the biggest races recognize that as well,” he hinted, referencing the battle for a Giro d’Italia wildcard.
After Tirreno-Adriatico, Pidcock will shift his focus to Milan-San Remo, where he hopes to improve on last year’s 11th-place finish, which came after a late attack. His further race program will depend on whether Q36.5 receives an invitation to the Giro d’Italia. If the team is not invited, Pidcock will add several Flemish Classics to his calendar. His schedule already includes the Brabantse Pijl, Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, in addition to Milan-San Remo.
The team has started the season in spectacular fashion, already securing seven victories. Alongside Pidcock’s strong performances, Matteo Moschetti and Fabio Christen have also contributed wins. Pidcock himself has stood on the podium at both Strade Bianche and the Ruta del Sol, proving his form heading into the Classics.
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'.
IDL-productions
Onley, Dickson, Thornley and now Mason; Scotland is punching way above its cycling weight
Cyclocross legend Lars van der Haar had a tough time after retiring from cyclocross: 'It was over pretty quickly'
Celia Gery won the European cyclocross championship while awaiting surgery: 'It'll be a new beginning'
Dutch team coach De Knegt annoyed by European Cyclocross Championships dispute: "A bit of a let down"
Glasgow set to shine as World Cup demand outstrips expectations and Mason eyes first home cyclocross race
Latest Cycling News
Michael Vanthourenhout's severe crash overshadows thrilling men's cyclocross race in merksplas
Thibau Nys offers glimpse into unbelievable cyclocross comeback: 'That uncertainty, that struggle with self-confidence'
Complications surround Wout van Aert's World Cyclocross Championship start
Thibau Nys and Lucinda Brand's team lose title sponsor in the middle of the cyclocross season
Onley, Dickson, Thornley and now Mason; Scotland is punching way above its cycling weight
Popular Cycling News
Pidcock's turbocharged vacation leads to struggles on the bike: 'No wonder people think cycling is hard'
Mads Pedersen weighs in on Lucinda Brand and Marie Schreiber's European Cyclocross Championship clash
Thibau Nys and Lucinda Brand's team lose title sponsor in the middle of the cyclocross season
Extensive evidence of use of N-word, homophobia, and Asian-hate by track cyclist Matthew Richardson revealed
Complications surround Wout van Aert's World Cyclocross Championship start
Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026