SIENNA, Italy – Tom Pidcock scores a landslide victory and becomes the first British rider to win the Strade Bianche.
Pidcock’s lead dwindled on the last of 11 white gravel sections, but the Olympic mountain bike champion used his amazing descent skills to extend it again in the final of the 184-kilometer (114-mile) course.
And after a short but steep final climb to Siena’s Piazza del Campo, Pidcock had plenty of time to raise his arms above his head. He crossed the finish line 20 seconds ahead of Valentin Madois and 22 seconds ahead of Thiès Benout.
“It will take some time for this victory to come to fruition,” Pidcock said. “When I left, this was not the plan. But it was at a usually decisive moment. I had a gap and I continued.
“Honestly, this week I had a feeling that something big was about to happen today, and it did.”
A day’s break from Sven Erik Bystrom, Alessandro De Marchi and Ivan Romeo had little chance when Pidcock attacked with about 45 kilometers (30 mi) remaining. The Ineos Grenadiers rider quickly caught up with the trio before riding the last 20 kilometers alone.
Pidcock built a lead of 20 seconds, but in the last 10 kilometers it was reduced to six. He managed to stretch it again, and victory seemed almost certain on the last section of cobblestone, where the slope reached an incredible 16%.
There was a brutal crash for Alberto Bettiola, who attacked shortly before Pidcock. After lying on the ground for a short time, he managed to get back on his bike, but had to abandon the race soon after.
Tom Pidcock single-handedly becomes first Briton to win Strade Bianche originally appeared on NBCSports.com
Source: sports.yahoo.com
