Britain's Tom Pidcock wins Al-Ula Tour / Photo: Loic VENANCE - AFP
Britain's Tom Pidcock wins Al-Ula Tour
Double Olympic mountain bike champion Tom Pidcock won Saudi Arabia's Al_Ula Tour on Saturday in his first race since joining the Q36.5 team.
Pidcock quit Ineos in the close season in an eyebrow-raising switch to the ambitious but second tier outfit and the Yorkshireman and the Swiss team have both reaped instant benefits.
"I did it at junior level but never at elite," said the 25-year-old after the five-day race, describing it as a career breakthrough.
"We won as a team. I know it's only a five day race but we didn't even know each other until December," said the sprightly Pidcock who was disaffected in his time with British outfit Ineos despite winning a Tour de France stage at the iconic Alpe d'Huez.
Pidcock took the lead on stage two attacking on a steep slope and easing away from his rivals. He won again on stage four to extend that lead and was little troubled defending his jersey on the final flat run.
The fifth stage itself was also won by a Q36.5 rider as the Italian Matteo Moschetti outsprinted Dutch speedster Dylan Groenewegen.
A.Schneider--MP
