SANREMO (IM) – Who knows what Tom Pidcock must have thought when he was told over the radio that Tadej Pogacar had crashed and that his gap before the Cipressa was over thirty seconds. His mind will have gone back to the Strade Bianche of last year, at the moment he found himself one-on-one with the Slovenian in the rainbow jersey. This time too the British Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team He was the only one who managed to follow the outbursts of a wounded and angry Tadej Pogacar.
The moment Mathieu Van Der Poel waved the white flag on the Poggio, surrendering to the devilish pace of the Slovenian, the duel between Pogacar and pidcock it became a question of nerves before it became a question of strength. Behind the group roared, with the two fugitives careful to mark each other and at the same time worried about not being swallowed up by their pursuers.
Four centimeters
A second place is worth as much Milan-Sanremo, after almost 300 kilometers everything is resolved in the blink of an eye, tenths, instantsWhen Tom Pidcock climbs onto the second step of the podium, he gives a hint of a smile, which, however, seems to hide much more behind it: perhaps much more than a hint of bitterness.
«I can't help but be disappointed – the Briton analyzes once he arrives in front of the microphones – because I was really close. When I get on the bus, once I get home and all the adrenaline has worn off, I'll be able to have a broader view of the situation. I think in the end, the pride of having experienced such a day will prevail. Even though I can't ignore the fact that I came within inches of a Classic Monument».
The honor of arms
Tom Pidcock and Tadej Pogacar fought, challenging each other openly on all terrainsThe world champion even tried to attack on the descent, in the three kilometers that lead from the top of the knoll they lead to Via Roma. But Pogacar proved to be the strongest, today as other times, even if in this Sanremo he had to bring out an even deeper, more visceral strength and anger.
“What Tadej did is impressive, it strikes me,” Pidcock continues to say while the images of the race are probably scrolling through his head.He is the greatest, I don't know if even the strongest of all time in this sport.Today proved it: fighting like that after falling, fighting, attacking, he has an incredible, uncommon mentality. He has won many races and yet he doesn't stop even in the face of bad luck.Today he had a pretty serious fall, he got back on his bike and continued to fight."
Having given everything
When a colleague asks Tom Pidcock if it was possible to take a few more risks, the answer is dry and decisive.
«No. Tadej (Pogacar, ed.) tackled the Poggio climb at a very high pace. On a bend we both put our wheels beyond the white line of the asphalt, exceeding the limits of the lane.Today I understood that I can win Sanremo, but I also learned that it's not that simple. You have to seize opportunities, in this sport as in others and this year I missed one.There are only a few more left. Every year I feel like I'm improving, and it's nice to see the progress, but it's not just a question of legs."
«There are questions – he concludes – like every time you come so close to success. But today it was difficult to do something moreIn the end, I'm the only one who stayed with Pogacar. But he knew these roads much better than I did; he lives only thirty kilometers away. I didn't even do the inspection because I preferred to race at the Tirreno and then at the Milan-Turin (where he won, ed.) It will take me some time to understand what happened and process it as best as possible. Now I'm going to Volta a Catalunya, different roads and new challenges».
The shadows lengthen, the finish line empties, and the crowd heads home. We sit down to write, also awaiting the words of winner Tadej Pogacar, who today added another trophy to his trophy cabinet, perhaps the one he feared he'd never win.
