TOM PIDCOCK

Everything everywhere all at once

- Andy McGrath

He is the bike rider who can do it all. After his best road season yet, just how does Pidcock manage his ambitions across three sports?

Watching Tom Pidcock race down the Col du Galibier was mesmerising, and it still is. Months later, fans from around the world share videos and rave about it on social media.

The young master in full flight sparks awe, disbelief and a little fear (we'd all love to ride like that, but please don't try it at home). Transmitting a special feeling to everyone watching is one mark of a champion. But another is winning and by the end of that day, Pidcock had made another splash.

On stage 12 of the 2022 Tour de France, having descended the race's highest climb full bore to join the breakaway, the hard work started. His companions were all older and more experienced, especially four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome. Tom had to get them to collaborate on the next two cols to ensure a healthy lead, then beat them up the Glastonbury of cycling, Alpe d'Huez.

After its three opening kilometres, Pidcock accelerated and slowly increased his advantage. Even if his climbing ability might not be quite as flashy as his descending, it was an impressively mature ride. Alone, he led the race up the 21-hairpin corridor of colour, sound and sensory overload. He was Moses on a Pinarello, parting a frothing sea of spectators.

"Just the energy and passion from it is incredible. And the respect as well," Pidcock says. "There could so easily be so many accidents, but there weren't any. It's just like a big celebration of this great climb in the Tour de France."

He recalls, "The best bit was when I saw my brother [Joe] on the climb. That was emotional. He was running next to me, I told him to get water to pour on me. He got heatstroke that day because he basically saved it all for me."