Totally exhausted, even Pidcock is emotional after an incredible Vuelta: "I am very proud of myself"
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Follow us on GoogleTom Pidcock came to the Vuelta a España to compete for the GC, but we've heard that a lot in recent years. However, while he was often pushed into that role at INEOS Grenadiers, at Q36.5, we saw the breakthrough of a new GC rider over the past three weeks. Pidcock on the final podium of the Vuelta, who would have expected that?
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The 26-year-old Brit often started a Grand Tour well, but when he began to show some cracks towards the end of the second week, it seemed to be going as usual. That turned out to be different, because Pidcock explained that his minor setback was mainly due to a mentally challenging day in Bilbao and that he had his best legs back in the third week.
Pidcock was able to keep up with the best riders throughout the third week, and even when he seemed to crack on the steep Bola del Mundo in stage 20, that was not the case. “It was difficult to find a rhythm on such steep sections with that surface. I was still in control. I didn't want to go over my limit and explode.”
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Pidcock a little emotional after securing Vuelta podium
That didn't happen, although Pidcock did completely collapse at the finish line. “I think I'm mostly exhausted. This morning, I was really looking forward to today. I had two relatively easy days behind me, so today felt like a one-day race, which I'm good at. Honestly, I don't know what to say. I'm very proud of myself.”
Did we see a little emotion from the usually cheerful, smiling, and often stoic Pidcock? “I think it's my greatest achievement in my career. Maybe not the biggest victory, because there are some very special ones. I'm just so exhausted, I can't find the words for it,” he recovered at the top of Bola del Mundo.
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Pidcock thinks about winning a Grand Tour
What was the best thing about reaching the top of the steep final climb in the Vuelta? There is still a day to go in Madrid, but: "The best thing is that I can relax now. You remain focused day after day and are fully engaged every day. Now I can just sit here without having to put on a jacket, drink cherry juice, and get a terrible recovery shake in my hands."
He added to Velon: "Did I enjoy it? Yes, I enjoyed the challenge, but it's difficult. We came for a top ten finish and a top five was optimistic, and here we are... on the podium. The work we've done and the shape the team has got me in gives me more confidence than ever that I can win a Grand Tour. For now, I'm just going to enjoy this."
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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
- 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
- Was Bernal’s 20th place really their best GC result? I thought he might have finished higher. Either way, it sounds like a rough Tour for the whole team.gearguru3310-11-2026
- Five days in breaks with no stage win is a painful stat. The team had chances, but they need to turn those opportunities into results.julien10-11-2026
- The Onley Vuelta example makes sense: a team with someone to rally around often looks much more cohesive. Hopefully INEOS can build on that rather than expecting a quick return to the Sky years.cadencekingm10-11-2026
- Thomas is right about the ambiguity. Eight riders all chasing stages can end up pulling in different directions, even if nobody’s deliberately working against anyone. They need a clearer plan once the GC leaders are out.robert6510-11-2026
- What a mess. The report makes it sound as though nobody properly explained the decision, and that’s hard to defend.jennifer1910-11-2026
- I’m still learning the rules: does moving left in a sprint automatically bring a penalty, or does it depend on whether the other rider is blocked? It sounds like Brand wasn’t impeded here.patriciaw10-11-2026
- A final decision still needs a proper explanation. If the federation’s complaint goes nowhere, I hope the officials at least review how they handled the riders afterwards.michael5410-11-2026
- Fair play to Lucinda for saying Marie had won fair and square. That kind of sportsmanship matters, especially after such a controversial decision.raceready710-11-2026
- Schreiber beat Brand on the road, so the jury needed to explain clearly why that slight deviation warranted relegation. Being cut off before she could give her account sounds appalling.lindae10-11-2026
