The British rider is well aware that anything can happen, but he is certainly optimistic about his chances of winning as he climbed to the top step no less than 4 times in Nove Mesto.
Source: UCI MTB World Series press release
After a short but high profile cyclo-cross campaign and a very successful spring season on the road, it's no surprise that the 23-year-old is among the favourites. Pidcock won the Strade Bianche and finished on the podium at the Amstel Gold Race and then Liège-Bastogne-Liège, before shifting his focus from road to mtb this month.
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A victory at the Swiss Cup in Chur last weekend saw the British rider get the better of Nino Schurter and Mathias Fluckiger. And Pidcock, who won gold in cross-country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, can't wait to compete for the leader's jersey in Nove Mesto Na Morave on his own brand new Pinarello Dogma XC bike.
I really like the route, I feel good here. It's technical and quite physical. All the roots mean there isn't much rest, even on the flat you have to work to keep momentum on the roots and there are quite a few climbs too, even over a minute long. This is the first opportunity I've had to wear the leader's jersey since I've been U23 so I'll give it my all – Tom Pidcock
Pidcock, who will race in the European Champion's jersey, points out that he is yet to win a World Cup of Short Track (XCC), seeing the race as a stepping stone to XCO.
"XCC for me is just a race to get a good position for the real race: XCO", He says.
Pidcock, a Tour de France stage winner, says his goal for this year it will be the World Championships in Scotland and after that he will try to defend his Olympic title in Paris next year.
Last year I got sick the week before the World Cup. I still managed to get fourth place, which I'm quite amazed by. I was empty mentally and physically – Tom Pidcock
Tonight there will be the Short Track competitions (Friday 12 May).
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