With a cool head, what allowed this to happen? Tom pidcock di win the Olympic gold medal in MTBPutting aside the excitement of the moment and the hours immediately following, rereading the race it is easy to notice how the British rider was able to enjoy an extra element compared to the pure specialists: his driving ability, which allowed him to gain ground on the most difficult sections, on the most technical descents, on the sections over large rocks that have put even established champions in difficulty.
A reading that finds agreement the new city of the Italian national cyclocross team Daniele Punctual and from which we start to talk about the future of the British driver: «There is no doubt that Pidcock had something more in his driving, in fact he gained in the more technical sections and then lost in the more pedal-friendly passagesWas this elastic pace the result of tactics or just different technical characteristics? Probably only he knows, but I was already sure of his victory at the start of the second lap."
Does this riding ability come from his practice of cyclocross?
Certainly his activity in the meadows has provided him with important knowledge, but we must also consider what Mother Nature has given him. Pidcock has a low centre of gravity which allowed him to better tackle the more technical passages, especially the passages on rocks that caused difficulties for many.
Can the benefits seen in mountain biking also be applied to the road?
Complex question: I remember when I saw it for the first time, at 2017 Cyclocross World Championships in Luxembourg, junior race, the classic rider who you see and ask yourself: "But where did this guy come from?" What he did on the road amazed me enormously, especially for what he did in such a short time, at such a young age. It's like Van der Poel: whatever bike he rides, he manages to emerge. Then we must not forget who is behind him, the staff, the team of Ineos Grenadiers which supports him 100 percent and allows him to translate his muscular capacity onto the road.
You mentioned a low center of gravity earlier: is that always an advantage?
It depends on the route and the weather conditions: on muddy and icy trails, in the more technical sections it certainly has an advantage, in the flats it's different and the advantage vanishes.
What do you think he'll do after this gold medal? We already know he'll be returning to the road and competing in the Vuelta, but will he be back on the mountain bike?
Let's say he won't give up on her completely, He is likely to want to defend his title in Paris 2024, but he will certainly dedicate himself more to road and cyclocross. Maybe he will plan some summer forays into the big title events, but the calendar will have to be studied in depth.
Will we find a Pidcock in Italy?
Yes, if we naturalize it… Jokes aside, it's very early for us. We have some good talent among the rookies and juniors, but it's premature to judge their merits; they need to work. Even at the Youth European MTB Championships in Valle d'Aosta it was clear that there are nations clearly ahead in terms of structure and approach to modern cycling. We must train the athletes of the future with long-term projects that encompass 360-degree activity.
Meanwhile, the cyclocross season will start soon, will you be taking the boys to the first World Cup trials in the USA?
The project is that, have 4-5 kids to bring along to also view the route and logistics of the next world championshipsThe boys will be divided between the two sexes and will also come from other current activities, such as mountain biking or road cycling. It's too early to name names., but I'm considering a whole series of situations.
The next season promises to be very busy, with the expanded World Cup and the introduction of the European Cup: is there enough material to cover all the events?
I have always been convinced that it's better to have a lot of choicea, then it will be up to the coaches, both national and club, to direct the boys towards the right appointments. In winter, there can be many variables, between injuries and seasonal ailments that change plans. We need to think about a comprehensive discussion and having so many possibilities is a help.
