'I’m mentally a bit frazzled' – British Olympic champion Pidcock feeling effects of transfer talk

In the aftermath of the race, the Yorkshireman attributed his performance to mental and physical fatigue, no small part of which was a result of the intense speculation that he could be set to leave Ineos Grenadiers.

Speaking shortly after dismounting in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, Pidcock spoke with apparent frustration.

He said: “I didn’t have that extra punch. I was a bit sluggish and slow, and so I was never really in the proper race…”

Pidock clarified that the road race had not been his top priority.

He said: “Coming out of the mountain biking, I didn’t want any pressure on this race. I said I would go on the calls and talk about it, but my focus was mountain biking. To be honest, my expectations were to be in the race and if I’d got a medal that would be awesome.”

Pidcock returned to his less-than-ideal preparation.

He said: “I didn’t feel like myself. I didn’t get much sleep after the mountain bike and too many people gave me birthday cake on my birthday (Tuesday). I had to take it really easy all week to try to freshen up. I was also mentally exhausted with the Olympics and everything else going on.”

The “everything else” to which Pidcock referred is the conjecture about his future as a member of the Ineos Grenadiers racing team.

When pressed on that point, Pidcock had a short response.

He said: “Yeah, that’s why I am mentally a bit frazzled.”

The team are enduring a difficult period, something which has fuelled the notion that Pidcock could leave.

Sir Dave Brailsford, their long-time leader, announced his departure last year.

Performance engineer and Team GB rider Dan Bigham has recently followed suit.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Bigham said: “The team should be doing things a lot better.”

Media speculation has been rife that budgets are under pressure, and the team did not have the ideal Tour de France in 2024, with Pidcock forced to withdraw due to Covid.

Despite the column inches, team performance director Scott Drawer spoke back in July, reinforcing the team’s desire to keep Pidcock.

He said: “Tom Pidcock is contracted with us until the end of 2027 so none of that’s going to change. He’s a generational talent. A long-term aspiration for Tom will be fighting for the GC and I think he wants that as well. We look forward to supporting him on that mission. He’s definitely got a key role in the team in the long-term future.”

In contrast to Drawer’s strong words, journalist Daniel Benson has reported recently that Pidcock may attempt to leave the team and that Ineos may even be willing to assist by paying out part of his existing contract, while rival teams are circling.

Nieuwsblad says Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Lidl-Trek are among teams that could make a move for the British rider.

Cycling News report that Pidcock’s contract does not contain any easy mechanisms to allow him to leave, complicating any potential transfer.

He said: “If I can win a Monument or the Worlds on the road, even if I’m just on the podium in the Tour, that’s a career that no one else has been able to have.”

With his Olympic commitments complete, Pidcock says he will now return to his base in Andorra.