Ineos Grenadiers’ Tom Pidcock explains ‘stupid mistake’ at Tour of Flanders that cost him a shot at victory

That error contributed to the British team failing to land a single rider in the top 20 on the day, with an even worse result for Ben Turner, who fractured his arm.

Pidcock was one of the favourites for a good showing, though he would have done well to beat any of Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert in Belgium.

In the end, the 23-year-old Brit finished way down in 52nd, and in a post on his Instagram, he looked back on his errors.

He wrote: “What a job these boys [his team] did yesterday. Unfortunately, I couldn’t repay them. It was all mint until I had a complete hunger flat.

“I’m amazed I even made it to the finish. A stupid mistake, but there’s always next year. Get well soon Ben Turner.”

Pidcock has had a mediocre cobbled season, suffering a concussion at Tirreno-Adriatico which forced him out of the E3 Saxo Classic, and then Milan-San Remo. One bright spot was his victory at Strade Bianche and a stage victory in Portugal’s Volta ao Algarve.

With Brabantse Pijl, Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège ahead, he is turning his attention to the future.

“A couple weeks at home now and then back for the Ardennes,” Pidcock added.

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