Pinarello Q36.5 lights up Stage 9 as Pidcock caps thrilling display with third
From the very first kilometre, the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team made one thing clear: it had come to race.
On a Stage 9 shortened by 30 kilometres under the Tour de France's Extreme Weather Protocol due to the extreme heat, the team animated the race from the outset. Quinten Hermans, Xabier Azparren and Chris Harper all launched aggressive moves in the opening kilometres before Tom Pidcock forced his way into the decisive breakaway alongside some of the strongest riders in the peloton.
The opening half of the stage was raced at full gas. Attacks, counter-attacks and relentless accelerations defined the day's action before the breakaway finally established itself, although never opening up a decisive advantage over the chasing peloton.
With the race entering its decisive phase, Pidcock's challenge almost came to an abrupt end.
A small piece of asphalt mixed with bitumen somehow became lodged inside the right-hand lever, preventing it from making the normal movement required for shifting.
Nothing had broken. With approximately 24 kilometres remaining, Pidcock managed to free the chain and get the bike moving again. However, although the drivetrain was operational once more, the piece of asphalt remained lodged inside the lever, preventing him from using the full range of gears for the remainder of the stage.
Despite the obstruction, Pidcock fought his way back to the front of the race, where the stage ultimately came down to a four-man battle for victory.
Unable to use all of his gear ratios on the uphill finish into Ussel, the British rider nevertheless produced another outstanding effort to sprint to third place after more than 150 kilometres of committed, attacking racing.
"It was incredibly hard from the start. We wanted to make the break and the whole team committed to it. Quinten, Xabier and Chris were brilliant, and together we raced exactly the way we wanted to."
Tom Pidcock
Reflecting on the incident, Pidcock added:
"For a moment I thought my race was over, but I managed to get the bike going again and keep fighting until the finish."
Tom PidcockWhile it is impossible to know how the final sprint might have unfolded without the obstruction inside the right-hand gear shifter, the incident was undoubtedly a significant factor, preventing Pidcock from using the full range of gears in the decisive moments. Full credit goes to stage winner Tim Wellens, but the circumstances make Pidcock's podium all the more remarkable.
On one of the toughest and hottest stages of this year's Tour de France, the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team once again demonstrated its identity: proactive, fearless and determined to shape the race from the first kilometre to the last. Another day of racing, exactly the Race Sharp way.
