As Tom Pidcock neared the end of his time on stage in a packed out room at Rouleur Live on Thursday, a man collecting rubbish stopped and took a photo of the Ineos Grenadiers rider on stage. The room might have been full of cycling fans, and more than a few well-connected people in the sport, but it was a reminder that Pidcock, the two-time Olympic champion, is the biggest star in British cycling, the man to see.
The 25-year-old has had a mixed season. He won the Amstel Gold Race, defended his Olympic mountain bike title, and finished second on the gravel stage at the Tour de France. However, intrigue swirled around the Yorkshireman's future at his Ineos Grenadiers team, and he was controversially "deselected" from Il Lombardia, a decision which suggested Pidcock could leave the team this winter. Ineos also had their worst-season ever, with just 14 wins, and have gone through a big staffing reshuffle.
