Tom Pidcock admitted that his mountain bike gold medal victory on the Paris Olympic Games, subsequent celebrations and rising hypothesis about his future at Ineos Grenadiers has left him ‘mentally a bit frazzled’.
Pidcock completed thirteenth within the Olympic Games street race however admitted he struggled to react and play an energetic half within the lengthy and intense race received by Remco Evenepoel of Belgium.
“I did not have that additional punch; I used to be a bit sluggish and gradual, and so I used to be by no means actually within the correct race,” Pidcock stated to a small group of British media after the race.
“I did not really feel like myself. I did not get a lot sleep after the mountain bike and too many individuals gave me birthday muffins on my birthday. I needed to take it very easy all week to attempt to clean up. I used to be additionally mentally exhausted with the Olympics and all the pieces else occurring.”
Asked to make clear his place over his future, the Yorkshireman stated: “Yeah, that is why I’m mentally a bit frazzled.”
Pidcock didn’t add something additional and the Great Britain press officer shortly ended the interviews at that time.
On Monday, Pidcock received a second consecutive gold medal within the Olympic cross-country mountain bike, getting back from a puncture to move France’s Victor Koretzky with an audacious transfer on the ultimate lap.
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On the identical day, journalist Daniel Benson then instructed by way of his substack page that Pidcock may attempt to go away Ineos Grenadiers, with the British staff even keen to help his transfer by paying a part of his obvious appreciable wage. Rivals groups are apparently conscious that Pidcock may one way or the other negotiate his approach out of his present contract and alter groups.
Flemish newspaper Nieuwsblad named Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Lidl-Trek as the 2 groups all for signing Pidcock. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe has additionally been linked to Remco Evenepoel as they appear to bolster their roster after funding from the power drink model.
Cyclingnews has been instructed by a number of sources that groups are all for Pidcock however the Yorkshirmen doesn’t have a get-out clause in his contract and so must drive or negotiate a deal to depart Ineos.
Ineos Performance Director Scott Drawer instructed Cyclingnews in the course of the Tour de France that Pidcock is taken into account a key a part of the British staff.
“Tom Pidcock is contracted with us till the top of ’27 so none of that is going to vary. He’s a generational expertise,” Drawer stated.
“An extended-term aspiration for Tom shall be preventing for the GC and I believe he needs that as nicely. We sit up for supporting him on that mission. He’s positively acquired a key function within the staff within the long-term future.”
Pidcock’s agent Andrew McQuaid performed down any switch speak to media, whereas highlighting Pidcock’s attraction, even when he has nonetheless to verify his Grand Tour expertise and ambitions.
“Would different groups be all for Tom? He’s probably the greatest riders on this planet, only a few have his multi-discipline abilities, so sure I’m positive they might be however that’s not a query for immediately,” McQuaid stated.
“The downside with long-term contracts is that issues can change over time,” McQuaid added. “Tom signed a five-year extension in 2022 and has achieved all of the objectives to this point, as negotiated.”
When contacted by Cyclingnews, an Ineos Grenadiers’ spokesperson stated: “We don’t touch upon ‘switch hypothesis’ relating to our contracted riders.”
Pidcock was sometimes seen close to the entrance of Saturday’s street race however admitted he was now prepared for a break as a result of his psychological and bodily fatigue.
The Olympic Games have been an enormous purpose however he additionally focused the Tour de France and overcame COVID-19, which compelled him out the Tour after two weeks of racing.
“It was robust to refocus,” Pidcock admitted, citing the impression of profitable gold within the mountain bike race final Monday.
“I used to be capable of refocus and are available in immediately on it however that mountain bike race took so much out of me, and immediately I simply did not have that additional punch. I used to be simply form of a bit sluggish and gradual. So I used to be by no means actually within the correct race.”
Pidcock will journey to Britain for a day on Tuesday however needs a while away from the highlight.
“I believe I’m going to go residence for in the future on Tuesday, earlier than going again to Andorra,” he stated.
“I stated from the beginning that I’d decide to the street race, I used to be street captain. I stated my focus was mountain bike after which after that, I’d change focus to this with the boys and we’d exit and race, have enjoyable.
“My expectations have been to be within the race, and if I acquired a medal, that may have been superior. But I used to be gradual, I used to be simply capable of hold using. I had no punch. I did not actually really feel like myself.”
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