Pidcock: “That might be the best TT I’ve ever done.” Eighth overall with the Alps ahead
Tom Pidcock delivered one of the strongest time trials of his career on Stage 16 of the Tour de France, producing a powerful performance across the demanding 26.1-kilometre course from Évian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains.
The route combined the long Côte de Larringes ascent with a fast, technical descent and a twisting run towards the finish. Pidcock completed the course in 34 minutes and 26 seconds, finishing 12th on the stage, just 2’07” behind World Champion Remco Evenepoel.
Pidcock moves up to eighth overall, now sitting just eight seconds behind seventh-placed Lenny Martinez.
“That might be the best TT I’ve ever done. At the top of the climb, I think I had basically the fastest time of everyone who had gone before me. I took the descent quite carefully because it was scary with the walls, but on the climb I felt super strong.
“If it had been a 20-minute climb, I think I would have done my best-ever 20 minutes today, and that was on the TT bike. That’s good confirmation of the training I’ve done on this bike.”
Technical apparel: Q36.5 New Aero Skinsuit (back zipped design and fully body-mapped multi-density construction)
Pidcock's Stage 16 Time Trial Setup
Bike: Pinarello Bolide F TT
Groupset: SRAM RED AXS 60T
Cassette: 10-33T
Wheels: ZIPP 858 NSW (front) / ZIPP SUPER-9 (rear)
Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Speed 28
"I think I’m getting stronger and stronger. Yesterday, after three days in the breakaway, I could really feel it in my legs. Even this morning, my legs were not moving, but once I got going today, I felt really strong."
Tom PidcockTom explained: “The big week is coming, so I’ll just continue racing the way I have been. Unless something goes badly wrong, I think a top ten is achievable. That would be great for me and a big result for the team.
“I’m also far enough down that maybe I can try to get into more breakaways and go for a stage. I know I might lose a couple of minutes on some of the summit finishes, so the breakaway can also be a good way to gain time. But obviously, I want to try to win a stage.”
From tomorrow, the Tour enters its decisive final sequence: four demanding days of aggressive racing before the peloton reaches Paris, where the Montmartre circuit will once again provide a spectacular conclusion to the race.
Tomorrow's Stage 17: Chambéry → Voiron (174.7 km | 2,200 m elevation gain)
Officially classified as a flat stage, the rolling terrain and significant elevation gain could make controlling the race difficult. While it represents an opportunity for the sprinters, it could also favour a strong breakaway before the Tour heads into three consecutive decisive Alpine stages.
