Tom Pidcock has completed a three-week stay at an "altitude hotel" in Spain as he aims to ramp up his condition for a serious tilt at the spring classics. He went straight from the hotel - which replicates the effects of altitude in its bedrooms - to Volta ao Algarve.
Having opted to curtail his cyclocross season, and not defend his world title the weekend before last, the Ineos Grenadiers rider is aiming to be in race-winning form as he tackles Omloop Het Nieuwsblad the weekend after next, followed by Strade Bianche, Milan-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders and the Ardennes Classics in April. It will be a busy period between Omloop on Saturday week and Liège-Bastogne-Liège on April 23rd, and one where there will be more pressure on him as he aims to deliver big wins matching his salary.
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His coach at Ineos Grenadiers, Kurt Bogaerts, said Pidcock's recent stay at the altitude hotel was aimed an enhancing his general condition rather than hitting absolute peak form immediately, though he said Pidcock needs to be close to his top shape very soon. He added the Tour de France stage winner's condition now was better than this time last year, despite missing 10 days of training in early January due to a wound on his shin.
“From the Omloop to Liège-Bastogne-Liège, he wants to work on his condition and compete everywhere for a win," Bogaerts told Het Laatste Nieuws. “If you want to be good in the Strade Bianche one week later, a decent level is already necessary (at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad)."
Bogaerts added while Pidcock was disappointed to miss the cyclocross worlds, he approached his cyclocross season this year with one eye constantly on his spring campaign on the road, which was a much bigger priority.
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"After his (World Cyclocross Championships) triumph in Fayetteville (12 months ago), he had decided for himself: 'I will do things differently in 2023'," said Bogaerts, adding the Worlds was a week later this year, which was "somewhat uncomfortable" timing given Pidcock was more focused on the classics.
“He has a long classic spring ahead of him, from Omloop to Liège-Bastogne-Liège. You now have to lay the necessary foundations for that, on which you can build firmly. So he prioritised that."
Pidcock's three-week stay at former pro Alexander Kolobnev's altitude hotel - Hotel Syncrosfera in Dénia, eastern Spain - saw him sleep in a bedroom that mimics the impact of being at whatever altitude the guest chooses, by changing the settings in the rooms. The drop in oxygen concentration triggers a rise in red blood cells, in the same way as going to a training camp at altitude.
“It was the very first time he slept in such an altitude chamber," said Bogaerts. "It was a block of three weeks, not specifically aimed at the start of the season, but to be able to build on it in the slightly longer term.”
Pidcock got his 2023 road season underway yesterday at Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta (2.Pro). He crossed the line 5th, in a bunch sprint, on the 200km opening stage won by Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team). And while he was relegated to last in the bunch, after putting his hand on another rider before the sprint, it was a strong showing for his first race.
