Strade Bianche defending champion Tom Pidock (Ineos Grenadiers) referred to as the prolonged 215km course pointless after an additional 31 kilometres, and extra gravel sectors than ever had been added for the 2024 version.
Pidcock heads into the Italian one-day race because the second favorite behind 2022 winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Workforce Emirates) after a powerful begin to his season at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Volta ao Algarve.
“Is it obligatory? No,” mentioned Pidcock bluntly to reporters together with Cyclingnews on the wet group presentation on Friday. “However, , individuals’s remark about this race was at all times that it isn’t lengthy sufficient.
“I do not assume a race must be lengthy for it to be epic, so yeah, we’ll see. It is courageous additionally, to alter a course like this. We will make extra of a call about that after tomorrow’s race.
“The course adjustments could have a huge impact on the dynamics of the race. The race did not ask for extra kilometres, however it’ll positively be harder. 40km to go after Le Tolfe looks like an extended approach to go.”
In 2023, Pidcock made his eventual race-winning transfer on the Monte Sante Marie gravel descent, 45km out from the Piazza Del Campo in Siena, whereas Pogačar the yr prior was alone simply over 50km from the road after a equally audacious assault.
The additional kilometres make it appear unlikely that anybody will get away earlier than taking within the now double loop of the Colle Pinzuto gravel climb and Le Tolfe sector, which start after 168km of the boys’s race this yr.
In whole, there at the moment are 15 sectors on the white Tuscan gravel roads as an alternative of 11, and the race will now surpass the psychological 200km barrier.
Pidcock said he received’t be feeling the warmth of the Slovenian or anybody else throughout the race because the defending champion and {that a} stable opening stint to 2024 places him in good stead to problem for victory.
“I am trying ahead to it, identical to final yr. I’ve had a extremely good run as much as the race, an extended coaching block, and few races to begin the yr the place I’ve been steadily increase,” mentioned Pidcock in a press release launched by Ineos Grenadiers.
“It is attention-grabbing to begin a race because the final winner, however I do not really feel any additional stress. It’s what it’s. After all, I will likely be watched extra, nevertheless it would not change how I’ll race.”
The rain-soaked presentation on the Fortezza Medicea in Siena wasn’t off-putting for the multi-discipline star, who’s greater than used to the rain and gravel as a former cyclocross World Champion and present MTB cross-country World Champion.
“Properly, to be trustworthy, it [the rain] would not make a lot distinction,” Pidcock mentioned. “You already know, individuals assume the rain is gonna make it more durable, nevertheless it means it is really grippier on the gravel.
“I believe a moist one is perhaps fairly thrilling, however perhaps we received’t fairly get that.”
The present forecast in Tuscany suggests a moist race is unlikely, however that would effectively change in a single day.
Pidcock leads a powerful Ineos group alongside fellow former winner Michał Kwiatkowski, Thymen Arensman, Kim Heiduk, Salvatore Puccio, Magnus Sheffield and Geraint Thomas, who hasn’t raced the Italian Traditional since 2019.
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