Tom Pidcock has revealed that the excitement surrounding his gold medal win in mountain biking
Tom Pidcock has revealed that the excitement surrounding his gold medal win in mountain biking at the Paris Olympics, along with the celebrations and ongoing transfer discussions, has rendered him 'mentally a bit frazzled.'
In the Olympic road race, Pidcock crossed the finish line in 13th place, acknowledging that he found it challenging to engage fully in the demanding race, which was ultimately won by Belgium's Remco Evenepoel.
"I lacked that extra burst of energy; I felt sluggish and slow, which kept me from being truly competitive,” Pidcock shared with a small gathering of British journalists post-race. “I didn’t feel like my usual self. After the mountain biking event, I struggled to get enough sleep, and I received too many birthday cakes on my birthday. I had to take it easy all week to recuperate. On top of that, the mental toll from the Olympics and everything else weighed heavily on me.”
When asked to elaborate on his future, the Yorkshireman expressed, "Yeah, that's why I’m mentally a bit frazzled."
Pidcock refrained from providing any additional comments, prompting the Great Britain press officer to terminate the interviews at that moment.
On Monday, Pidcock achieved his second consecutive gold medal in the Olympic cross-country mountain biking event, recovering from a flat tire to overtake France’s Victor Koretzky with a daring maneuver in the last lap.
On the same day, journalist Daniel Benson proposed on his Substack page that Pidcock might consider departing Ineos Grenadiers, with the British team reportedly open to aiding his transition by covering part of his significant salary. Rival teams seem to recognize that Pidcock could potentially find a way to negotiate an exit from his current contract and switch teams.
The Flemish publication Nieuwsblad identified Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Lidl-Trek as the two squads keen on acquiring Pidcock. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe has also been mentioned in connection with Remco Evenepoel as they aim to enhance their roster following investments from the energy drink company.
Cyclingnews has received information from multiple sources indicating that there is interest in Pidcock from various teams; however, the Yorkshire native lacks a get-out clause in his contract, which means he would need to negotiate or force a deal to leave Ineos.
Ineos Performance Director Scott Drawer stated during the Tour de France that Pidcock is viewed as a vital component of the British squad.
"Tom Pidcock is under contract with us until the end of '27, so none of that is going to change. He's a talent for the ages," Drawer commented.
"Tom’s long-term goal will be to contend for the General Classification, and I believe he aspires to that as well. We’re excited to support him on that journey. He will undoubtedly play a significant role in the team’s long-term plans."
Pidcock’s agent, Andrew McQuaid, downplayed any transfer rumors in discussions with the media, while emphasizing Pidcock’s marketability, even though he has not yet established himself in Grand Tours.
"Would other teams want Tom? He’s among the best cyclists globally, and very few possess his multi-discipline skills, so yes, I’m certain there would be interest, but that’s not a discussion for today," McQuaid stated.
"The challenge with long-term contracts is that circumstances can evolve," he added. "Tom signed a five-year extension in 2022 and has met all the targets outlined so far."
When approached by Cyclingnews, a spokesperson for Ineos Grenadiers remarked: "We don’t discuss 'transfer speculation' concerning our contracted athletes."
Pidcock was sometimes spotted towards the front in Saturday's road race, but he acknowledged that he is ready for a break due to both mental and physical exhaustion.
The Olympics were a significant focus for him, alongside the Tour de France, from which he had to withdraw after two weeks of competition due to COVID-19.
Pidcock acknowledged the difficulties he faced in regaining his focus, attributing it to the emotional toll of winning gold in last Monday's mountain bike race.
"I managed to refocus and participate today, but that mountain bike race drained me significantly, and I lacked the extra energy today. I felt somewhat sluggish and was never truly in the race," he explained.
On Tuesday, Pidcock plans to return to Britain for a brief visit but expressed the need for some time away from the media glare.
"I think I’ll head home for a day on Tuesday before returning to Andorra," he stated.
"I was clear from the beginning about my commitment to the road race as the road captain. My original focus was on the mountain bike, and once that was over, I intended to shift my attention to this event alongside the team for some enjoyable racing."
"My goal was to compete in the race, and it would have been fantastic to win a medal. However, I felt slow and could only continue riding without any real power. I didn’t feel like my usual self.”
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