Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling) said his third place on stage 1 of the Volta a Catalunya on Monday was "probably the best sprint like that I ever did," despite having to launch earlier than he wanted in a fast, technical finale in Sant Feliu de Guíxols.
Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers) won the opening stage ahead of Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe), with Pidcock completing the podium after a selective run-in along the Catalan coast. The finish was shaped by rolling terrain, shifting winds and a technical approach that turned the closing kilometres into a positioning battle rather than a conventional bunch sprint.
Speaking to Cycling Pro Net after the stage, Pidcock explained why he committed early. "I just had to go a little bit early. You know, in that sprint, if you lose speed, then it's all over anyway," he said.
Godon, who took the leader's jersey, confirmed that picture in post-race interviews. The Frenchman said the sprint was launched at around 400 metres to go and described the final 50 metres as feeling like they lasted an hour.
Pidcock acknowledged that the day had not started smoothly. "This morning I said, 'It's not a very hard race. I feel recovered. I'm fine.' But actually, my legs were pretty heavy when we started the race," he said. "But then they felt much better in the end."
The pattern of legs feeling heavy early then improving through the stage left him satisfied. He was clear that the conditions had tested the whole field. "It was really hard along the coast, up and down, crosswind, tailwind, headwind," he said. "We have to be up there anyway because it's such a technical final."
The finale was technical with UAE Team Emirates-XRG raising the pace hard in the closing kilometres and stretching the group before the sprint. That acceleration made the finish even more selective.
Pidcock also pushed back gently on the idea that a pure power sprint would suit him better. "Everyone always says these finishes suit me better. That's a pure, like, just power sprint," he said, before returning to his central point: "I can be happy with that."
Cover image credit: Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.
