It was pretty close in the end, you know, a lot closer than in previous attempts to beat Tadej. It was a lot closer, but not close enough," Pidcock explained post race when asked by Cyclingnews about his performance.

Tom Pidcock’s career at Ineos Grenadiers appeared to hit a wall. Rumblings of discontent between rider and management suddenly manifested themselves in direct and brutal action: Pidcock was dropped for the final Classic of the season,

Tadej Pogačar 's hopes for a third Strade Bianche victory could have ended with 50km to go when he slid out at speed and tumbled into a bramble-filled verge. But, while he suffered road rash all down his left side, he was able to remount, chase down Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) and win the race with an attack on the final circuit of dirt roads near Siena.

The Team UAE rider topped the podium by 1min 24sec ahead of Briton Tom Pidcock, with Belgium’s Tim Wellens a further 48sec adrift. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Pogačar looked uneasy not to break the elastic with his accelerations. Both he and Pidcock pushed the limits on the dusty downhills, with the world champion admitting afterwards

Bittersweet” was the word Tom Pidcock used to describe his emotions after Strade Bianche, where he went toe-to-toe with Tadej Pogačar, and ultimately finished second. The 25-year-old vowed pre-race that he would do his best to rival the world champion,