"Then the next best rider is less hard to beat" - Tom Pidcock anticipates an open Pogacar-less World Championships

Tom Pidcock, 27, is positioning himself as a serious contender for the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, scheduled for September 27, after finishing 4th at the Grand Prix de Québec and 6th at the Grand Prix de Montréal in Canada. Defending champion Tadej Pogacar will not compete at the World Championships as he recovers from a crash sustained during the Vuelta a España. Pidcock acknowledged that Pogacar's absence opens up the race, stating that 'the next best rider is less hard to beat' and that 'you don't need to be the strongest to win.'