Pidcock finds it difficult to comprehend Van der Poel’s scepticism about the new Strade Bianche: “That requires different qualities”

Mathieu van der Poel clarified on Sunday why he chose to skip Strade Bianche this year, opting instead to focus on Tirreno-Adriatico. The Dutch rider, who won Strade Bianche in 2021, cited two key reasons for his absence, explaining his decision during a press conference. Meanwhile, Tom Pidcock, the runner-up from Saturday’s race, shared his thoughts on Van der Poel’s choice.

Pidcock, now an expert on the Tuscan gravel, has consistently performed well at Strade Bianche. After winning in 2023 and finishing fourth in 2024, he secured second place this year after an intense battle with Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian, considered the pre-race favorite, had to fight hard for victory after a crash and facing a determined Pidcock. Some wondered whether the extra 30 kilometers added to the course played a role in the race’s outcome.

Van der Poel believes it did. He explained that the course modifications, which increased the race distance from 184 to 213 kilometers in 2024, made it more suited to climbers. “I didn’t watch much of it live because I was training, but I saw the highlights. It was a beautiful race,” he said. “I have great memories of Strade Bianche, but with the new route, it’s become more of a climbers’ race. You have to be realistic and focus on other goals.” He admitted that skipping Opening Weekend was a tougher decision, but ultimately, he had to prioritize races where he felt he had the best chance of winning.

Pidcock, however, wasn’t entirely convinced that Van der Poel couldn’t compete under the new conditions. Speaking to *IDLProCycling.com*, he acknowledged the increased endurance demands but believed Van der Poel and Wout van Aert would still be contenders if they lined up. “The race dynamics have changed. It now opens up 80 kilometers from the finish, which shifts the focus toward endurance and nutrition rather than just explosive efforts,” he explained.

Despite the added climbing, Pidcock pointed out that the race still favors classics specialists. The top ten featured several riders known for excelling on varied terrain, including Tim Wellens (third), Magnus Cort (sixth), Gianni Vermeersch (seventh), and Michael Valgren (eighth). “It’s not Liège-Bastogne-Liège,” Pidcock concluded. “Strade Bianche is still full of gravel, and that requires a unique skill set.”