'Tom doesn't know his own limits in terms of how far he can go' says Pidcock's coach
'We’re knocking on the door as hard as we can, and we're talking with the legs' says Kurt Bogaerts on Giro d'Italia wildcard selection
Tom Pidcock has seemed like a new rider since donning a Q36.5 Pro Cycling jersey at the year's outset, boasting four victories and several second places. Ahead of Milan-San Remo, we spoke with his coach and sports director, Kurt Bogaerts, after Pidcock’s impressive performance at Tirreno-Adriatico.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist finished sixth overall in Italy and was the closest finisher to Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) after the Spaniard surged ahead on the key mountain stage to Frontignano. Another second place on the road to Colfiorito, and of course second to Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche a fortnight ago, have highlighted Pidcock’s credentials ahead of Milan-San Remo - a race he nearly won in 2024.
“He’s definitely a high-performing Tom. He’s in the game at most of the races he’s competed in, and that was the goal for the season - being in the final for the races that suit him,” Bogaerts told us during an exclusive interview this week.
“I think he’s definitely got his best climbing numbers, and he’s definitely on a high level. On the climbing stage, he was second, and I think he doesn’t know his own limits at the moment in terms of how far he can go. He’s managing his effort, and it’s new for him, racing against the better climbers in a higher league, who are the best in the world. Riders like Mikel Landa, who was in the top five in the Tour de France, and Jai Hindley, who won the Giro. We all know how good Ayuso is, but there were so many guys who were not part of that group. You know that Tom has stepped up as a rider, and he’s now performing at a higher level - and where it’s all about numbers. You can either push them or you can’t,” the Belgian coach added.