PIDCOCK-A-HOOP

Golden boy Tom reaches top of mountain again

- MIKE WALTERS

TOM PIDCOCK turned a French hillside into his bland of hope and glory with Britain’s greatest ride in Olympic history.

On the gravel tracks of Elancourt, Pidcock summoned all the Yorkshire grit he could quarry to pull off a monumental comeback and strike gold for Britain.

Down and out when a puncture and clumsy wheel change left him 40 seconds off the pace, Pidcock – defending the title he won in Tokyo three years ago – didn’t panic.

He clawed his way back, reeled in French favourite Victor Koretzky and on the final lap he completed the most sensational fightback you will ever see in mountain bike cross-country.

Pidcock had called the course “bland” during the build-up and he said it looks a lot nicer on TV than it was to ride.

But on the slopes of Elancourt Hill, this was the greatest English victory on French soil since Agincourt.

Think of Liverpool coming back from three goals down to beat Barcelona in the Champions League. Think of Botham’s Ashes. Think of Paul Lawrie trailing by 10 shots going into the final round at The Open in Carnoustie.