Tom Pidcock’s end-of-season ambitions have been hit by a crash on the Tour of Britain and a concussion analysis, with the Ineos Grenadiers rider admitting that ‘non-performance’ points within the staff are nonetheless distracting him from racing.
Pidcock received a second consecutive gold medal within the mountain bike occasion on the Paris Olympics however then struggled within the street race every week later. He admitted that he was “mentally a bit frazzled” as a consequence of experiences and hypothesis about his future at Ineos Grenadiers.
He was reportedly linked to a transfer away from the staff in the course of the summer season, with options that he doesn’t get together with Director of Racing Steve Cummings, who was surprisingly left at dwelling or the Tour de France. It seems Pidcock will now keep at Ineos however the switch speak and issues contained in the staff have been a distraction.
Pidcock was in an early break on the ultimate stage of the Tour of Britain however then crashed arduous. Plenty of riders from the Tour of Britain had been as a consequence of journey to Canada through Paris on Tuesday however Pidcock will now miss the 2 races and spend time at dwelling to get better from concussion.
“Following the crash in stage six of the Tour of Britain, we are able to verify that Tom Pidcock has sustained a concussion. He will return dwelling for restoration and stay below the supervision of our medical staff while he follows our concussion ‘return to coaching’ protocol,” Ineos mentioned in a social media put up.
“Unfortunately this can imply he’s unable to race within the upcoming Canadian races. We want Tom a speedy restoration and hope he can be again to racing quickly.”
The Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec can be held on Friday, September 13, with the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal on Sunday, September 15.
Tadej Pogačar, Michael Matthews, Julian Alaphilippe and quite a lot of different riders are utilizing the 2 World Tour races as an necessary build-up to the UCI street World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland on September 29.
Pidcock was anticipated to steer Great Britain in Zurich, alongside Tour of Britain winner Stevie Williams.
Pidcock has loved a rollercoaster 2024 season, successful the Amstel Gold Race and Olympic gold but additionally struggling on the Tour de France earlier than catching COVID-19. His many abilities make it troublesome for Pidcock to decide on between mountain biking, the cobbled classics and Grand Tour racing. He has hinted he’ll deal with street racing within the season to return.
“Like in so many seasons, there are constructive and unfavorable facets. It is simply so rattling arduous to win. There are solely a small variety of riders who win nearly all of the races and I wish to be one in every of them. That will not be the case now and that has to alter,” Pidcock informed Het Laatste Nieuws on the Tour of Britain.
When requested if he endured a scarcity of freedom at Ineos, Pidcock reportedly mentioned: “It’s true that there are a variety of issues inside the staff that I’ve to cope with in the meanwhile. And to be sincere, they do not assist me to carry out optimally.
“I’ve to consider much more than simply performance-related issues in the meanwhile. And that implies that the deal with the issues which can be actually necessary, specifically racing, will not be preferrred.”
Asked if it was a matter of the staff’s construction, Pidcock mentioned: “I believe I’d higher not say something extra about this.”
Asked if there’s a probability he’ll change groups, he mentioned: “I’ve a contract till the tip of 2027. I am unable to say extra.”
