'I wouldn't put me in your fantasy team' – Tom Pidcock looks to fly under the radar to result at Liège-Bastogne-Liège but he's 'not expecting any fireworks'

Tom Pidcock, the reigning Strade Bianche champion and Ineos Grenadiers' Classics hopeful, has downplayed his chances ahead of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Arriving just in time for La Doyenne, Pidcock explicitly stated he's "not expecting any fireworks" and advised against including him in fantasy teams, openly admitting his best form is still elusive. This pre-race assessment sets a low bar for the British rider, tempering expectations for one of the season's most demanding Monuments.

This self-assessment comes as Pidcock seeks to rebound from a somewhat inconsistent spring campaign, marked by his Strade Bianche triumph but also by a DNF at Amstel Gold Race and a modest 10th at Flèche Wallonne. His recent performances suggest a rider still building towards peak condition, a stark contrast to the dominant form displayed by rivals like Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar earlier in the Classics. For a rider of Pidcock's calibre, managing expectations is often a strategic play, but his candour here suggests genuine uncertainty regarding his current physical state.

Pidcock's public humility is either a masterclass in expectation management or a genuine reflection of his current engine. Either way, it ensures any strong performance will be hailed as a surprise, while a quiet day will simply confirm his own prognosis.