Paris 2024 Olympics: 'It's how legends are made' - Tom Pidcock dreaming of mountain bike title defence
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Published 08/05/2024 at 13:49 GMT
Tom Pidcock is that rarest of things: a rider that excels in three different disciplines. He's won Classics and triumphed atop Alpe d'Huez at the Tour de France on the road. He was cyclo-cross world champion in 2022. And this summer, he will defend his Olympic mountain bike title in Paris. Watch Pidcock on The Power of the Olympics on Wednesday, May 8 at 18:00 UK time on Eurosport 1 and discovery+
'Big goal to defend it' - Power of the Olympics: Pidcock looks ahead to Paris title defence
Tom Pidcock hopes defending his Olympic mountain bike title in Paris will elevate him to "legend" status in the world of cycling.
The Brit stormed to cross-country victory at the rearranged Tokyo Games in 2021, clinching the third gold for Team GB on a day dubbed 'Magic Monday' after Adam Peaty had starred in the pool and divers Tom Daley and Matty Lee had combined for victory.
Pidcock has already enjoyed success on the road this season with Ineos Grenadiers, winning Amstel Gold Race, and will tune up for his off-road charge in Paris at the Tour de France.
The 24-year-old sat down with Eurosport show The Power of the Olympics, available to watch on Wednesday at 18:00 UK time on Eurosport 1 and discovery+, to talk about his title defence in Paris, his packed summer and the instincts of riding on the limit.
"Yes, it's a big goal to defend it," he said on his mountain bike challenge. "In this country, you become an Olympic champion, but if you win it twice, it's how legends of the sport are made.
"I’m only going to Olympics with eyes on one colour of medal. So, if it's not that medal, then it won’t be successful."
He continued: "Olympic champion is the highest achievement. You know that there's more people watching than any other race.
"It just feels bigger than cycling itself, and that's something I've only ever felt at the Olympics.
"I remember my parents saying news crews were coming, walking down their drive and I was on the front page of the newspapers the next day because it was the day we won our first three gold medals. It was just a bit crazy really."
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Amstel Gold Race final kilometre: Pidcock edges thrilling four-man showdown
Since triumphing in Tokyo, Pidcock has added cyclo-cross and mountain bike world titles to his palmarès and claimed a stage win at the Tour de France atop the imposing Alpe d'Huez.
However, that versatility does come at a cost: a packed schedule.
Pidcock will head to the Tour de France from June 29 to July 21, bidding for another stage win and a top five finish overall, before lining up in the men's cross-country mountain bike race on July 29.
"It's going to be a big summer. A Grand Tour straight into the Olympics. That's not easy. It will depend a lot on how my training goes now," he said.
"In the GC, I can battle for top five or whatever, but I want to come away with a win in the Tour. That's my priority.
"When you say there's eight days between the Tour de France and the Olympics, people go, 'wow, that's not much time'.
"So, of course, it's not going to be easy, but it's something that's going to require everything to go right, and that's going to be really key."
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer
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