Tom Pidcock discusses 'big three' battle with Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel at Superprestige Diegem

Published 30/12/2022 at 12:07 GMT

Tom Pidcock says he was "a bit complacent" in his 'Big Three' battle with Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel at the Superprestige Diegem cyclo-cross event, which saw Van Aert take the spoils. The trio have gone head-to-head on a number of occasions lately as the cyclo-cross season has seen 11 races crammed into five weeks. Pidcock has recorded two wins, at Kortrik and Boom.

Van Aert beats Pidcock, Van der Poel to Superprestige Diegem victory

Tom Pidcock says he was "a bit complacent" in his 'Big Three' battle with Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel at the Superprestige Diegem cyclo-cross event.

The race yet again saw the trio record a 1-2-3 finish, but this time it was Van Aert who took the victory having usurped Pidcock towards the end.

Brit Pidcock, who has two wins himself from an intense cyclo-cross season, rued his inability to make his lead stick.

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“The last time I went over him [Van Aert], I was a bit complacent, and I had the lead until the final stairs," Pidcock, of Ineos Grenadiers, reflected.

"Wout came past me on that last bit before the final bridge.

“At that point, I was never going to beat him. He ran up and was back on his bike before I even looked up.

“Honestly this was the easiest race from the last three [after previous races at Gavere and Heusden-Zolder, which saw Pidcock in action three days running].

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“Only a few climbs we went full. On the climbs, there was a headwind, and when we were together, we were looking at each other.

"It was a shame I couldn’t pull it off.”

Thomas Pidcock of United Kingdom and Team INEOS Grenadiers on second place, race winner Wout Van Aert of Belgium and Team Jumbo - Visma and Mathieu Van Der Poel of Netherlands and Team Alpecin-Deceuninck on third place celebrate on the podium ceremony.

Image credit: Getty Images

Pidcock, the reigning cyclo-cross world champion, is yet to confirm whether he will defend his title at Hoogerheide in early February.

For now, he is targeting some rest after a gruelling stretch.

“I got a new sauna. I haven’t used it yet," he joked.

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