Pidcock doesn’t fully understand why Van der Poel doubts the new Strade Bianche: "That requires different qualities"

There was some uncertainty about it, but on Sunday, Mathieu van der Poel explained why he didn’t race in Strade Bianche on Saturday, ahead of his participation in Tirreno-Adriatico. The Dutchman racing for Alpecin-Deceuninck won the race in 2021, but during a press conference, he outlined two reasons for his absence in the battle against Tadej Pogacar and Tom Pidcock. The runner-up from the previous day also had something to say about it.

After Saturday, Pidcock is undoubtedly an expert on Strade Bianche. The British rider from Q36.5 finished fourth last year (when he was still riding for INEOS Grenadiers) after winning the race in 2023. In 2025, he secured second place after an intense duel with Pogacar. The Slovenian from UAE Team Emirates-XRG was the top favorite, but after a crash and facing a strong Pidcock, he had to fight hard to take the victory on Saturday. Did the extra 30 kilometers in the finale play a role in that?

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Pogacar and Pidcock teamed up in Strade Bianche

Van der Poel prefers to focus on other goals rather than Strade Bianche

According to Van der Poel, it did. He deliberately skipped Strade Bianche due to the increased difficulty of the course. In 2024, the race distance had already been extended from 184 to 213 kilometers. "I was on the bike myself, so I didn’t see much of it live. Of course, I watched the highlights, and it was a super beautiful race," he first expressed his appreciation as a cycling fan for what Pogacar and Pidcock showcased on the Tuscan gravel.

"I have great memories of the race myself, but with the new course, it has become more of a climbers' race. You have to be realistic and set your goals elsewhere," Van der Poel continued his explanation. The tougher route played a role, but so did prioritizing races where he felt he had a better chance. "Skipping Opening Weekend was actually harder for me, but these are the choices you have to make. You can’t race everywhere. I try to be at my best for the goals I’ve set."

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Van der Poel during Sunday's Tirreno-Adriatico press conference

Pidcock thinks Van der Poel could still compete for the win in the new Strade Bianche

What did Pidcock think of those statements? He gave an honest and detailed response to IDLProCycling.com, saying he understood Van der Poel’s reasoning, but perhaps not entirely. "I think if Mathieu and Wout (van Aert, ed.) are at the start, they’re racing to win. But the course is different now. The natural moment when the race opens is now 80 kilometers from the finish. That makes it more about endurance and nutrition, and less about that explosive factor."

Why does he still believe that Van der Poel and others would have a chance? Besides their sheer quality, Pidcock points to the nature of the race itself. Saturday’s top ten featured several classics specialists, including Tim Wellens (third), Magnus Cort (sixth), Gianni Vermeersch (seventh), and Michael Valgren (eighth). "There’s more climbing, but it’s not Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Strade Bianche is full of gravel, and that requires different qualities," Pidcock concluded.

Read also

Pogacar offers apologies to Pidcock and is brutally honest about himself despite Strade victory: "I was pretty sh*t"

🎥 Did Pogacar underestimate the new Strade Bianche finale, which Pidcock said caused 'dead bodies' to pile up?

Mathieu Van der Poel's teammate regrets Strade Bianche course change: "It used to be one of my favorite races"

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