Pidcock powers to dominant Nové Město World Cup victory
Five starts. Five wins.
Tom Pidcock once again turned Nové Město into his personal hunting ground on Sunday, delivering a commanding solo victory in the Men Elite XCO round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series in the Czech Republic.
Racing on one of the most iconic and demanding circuits in modern cross-country mountain biking, the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team rider attacked already on lap two, immediately stretching the race under relentless pace and technical pressure. From that moment onward, the Olympic Champion never allowed the race back together.
Pidcock rode alone at the front for the majority of the race, combining explosive climbing power with calculated precision through the technical descents, before crossing the finish line solo and with arms raised in front of the packed Nové Město crowd — securing yet another World Cup triumph at a venue where he continues to redefine the limits of modern XCO racing.
"I think that was the hardest one I've done. I didn't make it easy for myself. I had a really good start and I was probably a bit too keen in the first laps. When Luca went in front, I knew that was a point where everyone was kind of showing themselves a little bit and I thought, I will test the water and see what happens. But it's a long way. Luca was pushing me all the way. He kept coming close and I had to kick again a few times."
Tom Pidcock
The victory further underlined Pidcock’s extraordinary versatility across disciplines and the continuously rising level of modern mountain biking.
"My fitness is good, but when I haven't done many races, I need to be a bit more cautious than perhaps in another part of the season. I think it shows everyone is pushing, everyone is getting better and stronger. The level of the sport keeps getting higher and higher. It keeps me on my toes because I can't rest on my laurels. These guys are working just as hard."
Tom Pidcock
Despite racing selectively on the MTB calendar, Pidcock once again demonstrated the raw technical sharpness and explosive race instinct that have made him one of the defining riders of his generation.
"I used my strength on the climbs to make the difference and just ride my own race."
Tom Pidcock
The performance in Nové Město also showcased the off-road racing ecosystem developed together with Q36.5, with Pidcock racing in his signature off-road equipment inspired directly by the elite performance demands of World Cup competition.
Pidcock’s race-day Q 36.5 skinsuit also carried a uniquely symbolic design language: the European Champion’s flag across the chest, the rainbow heritage of a former world champion and the gold detailing of an Olympic Champion — all integrated into one of the most advanced off-road race suits currently used in elite competition.
The upper section of the skinsuit uses the same advanced materials featured in the Q36.5 Dottore Clima skinsuits currently being raced at the Giro d’Italia, transferring proven WorldTour-level thermoregulation and breathability technology directly into the extreme demands of modern cross-country mountain biking.
