'I made a mistake' - Pidcock rues missed opportunity at Clásica Jaén

Tom Pidcock came home in second place after a frantic day on the gravel roads around Jaén, where a split in the middle of the race proved decisive. Reflecting on the key moment, the Pinarello-Q36.5 leader said that he was caught out as the race blew apart near the first gravel sectors.

“I think when I missed this move in the start,” Pidcock said to Eurosport. “To be honest, I thought my race was over at that point.”

The crucial split formed as the peloton approached the first sector of gravel, with tension rising after a long, uncertain fight for the day’s first breakaway, which didn't establish itself until 50km of the race had been completed. Pidcock was momentarily preoccupied with shedding layers just as the race exploded.

“I think because the break was taking so long to go and we were coming close to the gravel,” Pidcock said. “It was clear there was not going to be an easy moment. I needed to take off my clothes that I started wearing because it was super cold this morning. There was one big group that went and I went across. I was trying to take off my jacket and suddenly there were 30 guys up the road and I missed it.”

With the bunch scattered, Pidcock credited the work of Soudal Quick-Step for reducing the gap enough to allow him to bridge on the first climb, though Tim Wellens was already up the road by then.

“Soudal Quick-Step, they made the gap close enough that we could come across,” he said. “I could go across on the climb the first time. Then we were back in the race, but Tim was already gone. My team was incredibly strong today, but Tim was stronger.”

After attacking with a small group in the finale, Pidcock was satisfied with the second place as he looks ahead to the Ruta Del Sol later this week. “Yeah, it’s not bad. Like I said, I made a mistake. My team was super strong today, which I can be very happy about,” he said. “I think I felt okay, but the days in Murcia were not ideal with the cancellation of races, travelling around and everything. Nice to get a good race in the legs now before Ruta next week or this week.”

Pidcock will be aiming to go better than his third place in the 2025 Ruta Del Sol general classification, with the race beginning on February 18.