Tom Pidcock drops a descending masterclass during Stage 12 of 2022 Tour de France | Eurosport

[@petyrkowalski9887]

Great descending skills are underrated in my opinion. Tom has skills like a motoGP and alpine downhill skier combined. Amazing.

[@pauledmonds3249]

Underrated?? I think not my friend, all the top riders have had to get good at descending to get where they are today.

[@Designandrew]

its called mountain biking

[@stopmotionbricks1648]

@@Designandrew you are right pidcock is a cross racer and a mountain biking Olympic gold medalust

[@ritid69]

Without the engine and snow of course

[@petyrkowalski9887]

@@ritid69 or skis or engine

[@colm1478]

Let’s not forget this was on his way to winning the stage to Alpe D’Huez. Doesn’t get bigger on the Tour. Chapeau!

[@lamafarouche]

And on Bastille day ! He really deserved this stage win !

[@botbenz]

TDF rookie giving a masterclass. Epic. He rode the turns like they had berms, except they didn't. Riveting.

[@thirdeyeblind6369]

I reckon this is where his MTB experience serves him extremely well. He has no fear of taking the absolute line of limit. Fantastic riding.

[@ironmantooltime]

Like for the rhyme 🤟

[@disenchantedwanderer9033]

Phenomenal descending from Pidcock. A joy to watch, the way he picks his route. You can really see his other disciplines working for him.

[@諸葛孔明-v2l]

I have been watching tdf for almost 32 years and no one can beat this guy when it comes to the courage and the skills needed for downhilling

[@cameronglover7261]

Allaphilipe/Sagan the only 2 I can think of with similar skill sets really

[@filippoprocopio9184]

Bardet/Nibali

[@brontok8460]

Matej mohoric also

[@filippoprocopio9184]

Bonifazio at Milano Sanremo

[@robinbarton7390]

Cancellara, who's probably faster because he weighs 2x Pidcocks

[@unospeedo]

And he took a swig from his waterbottle! A masterful performance.

[@jonaslind7085]

When they said he is also a MTB champ it clicked. Cornering - while such a simple thing - can take a lifetime to master and he just has way more practise.

[@julibraxd]

I did this descent a few weeks ago and was scared going 50 Km/h. Sharp corners, no barriers and crosswinds made it very challenging. I can only admire Tom Pidcock for his courage and skill!

[@unapalomablanc]

Which col is it?

[@julibraxd]

@@unapalomablanc col du Galibier. Descent to Valloire

[@unapalomablanc]

@@julibraxd thanks!

[@MsJuval]

I've got mixed feelings here. Of course it was an amazing triumph but he took a huge risk. He could have died, so could have anybody else he crashed into at this speed (cyclist or spectator).

[@fategd]

​@@MsJuvalI mean that's exactly part of the sports dangers, which is why it's also included in the more dangerous ones

[@Atzan]

Love the way Louvel reacts in surprise at 1:03 by getting up on the pedals to try and recover after Pidcock's done him up like a kipper.

[@mettacitta2000]

Masterful descending but lets not forget the amazing camerawork too 👍

[@robertfox882]

Definitely.. and the motorbike rider...👍

[@ssmmothers]

That lad is gonna be a legend.incredible bike handling 👍👍👍👍👍👊

[@alanwllms5172]

The way he went past Froome was classic Valentino Rossi

[@jimmysuardzliners8773]

And without put out the leg. 😉

[@danm9297]

Watched it live. Dude is special.

[@mf8080]

This is really impressive

[@johnweaire3389]

The best I have ever seen in 60 years of watching cycling !

[@renekadijk6108]

Sorry, I have watched also for 60 years and the unbelievable courageous Delgado was absolutely the best, always with his head over his steering wheel, which is pretty dangerous and is now forbidden. He always won at least one minute on all his competitors downhill. Lucien Aimar, the winner of the Tour the France in 1966, won this race also downhill.

[@kingwilliamthefourthguesth3659]

Learnt that in the hills and dales of Yorkshire - Go Tom !!

[@theyorkshirepudding2656]

❤️

[@barking_mad6649]

Another Yorkie 👍❤️

[@marccarter1350]

This in 35 years of watching racing is some of the best technical descending I have every seen. His climbing after was great. He disappeared after such a performance. Which is very normal. That makes me think that he is clean.

[@a.sarmiento5116]

Awww ... should cover a whole clip of his descending. Mesmerizing!

[@foxxymorony]

Incredible

[@alesgrdjan1406]

Let's go for the descent race between Nibali, Mohoric, van Aert, Alaphilippe and Pidcock.

[@tomaskollar9507]

And Sagan ;)

[@TheMortenbrenoe]

Norsgaard has KOM downhill on Galibier :)

[@alesgrdjan1406]

@@tomaskollar9507 yes, i forgot Sagan. sorry :D.

[@Fyr35555]

@@TheMortenbrenoe which one? I think there is Emma Norsgaard in the women's peloton but she also has a brother iirc

[@jattermann]

@@Fyr35555 the Brother, Mathias Norsgaard

[@odbguy5886]

I don't know what was more amazing.. Tom's descent 🤯 Or the amount of variation in the spelling of his name, Pidcock on the subtitles 😂

[@camillaericajuliarandal332]

The danish commentators said during broadcast that he should be named cockpit instead as it was like watching a fighter plane

[@tekkta]

Trust a mountain biker to show you how descending is done.

[@ifitrollsrideit530]

You mean trust a cyclocross rider. ;)

[@bitchoflivingblah]

MBR magazine headed a piece on their online section with 'Mountain biker wins Tour De France stage over Alpe D'Huez'. Not that he's the first notable MB winner, others include Cadel Evans (winner overall 2011) and MvdP.

[@aiarta2280]

He isnt a mountainbiker. Cyclocross.

[@joneinarmattiasvisser6113]

​@@aiarta2280 He is both. How can you not be a cyclocross ride an be world champion. But also, how can you not win Olympic gold in mtb if you aren't a mtb'er? And also count cyclist.

[@aiarta2280]

@@joneinarmattiasvisser6113 Well sure. Agreed. But what would be more apt concerning Pidcock? Is he a mountainbiker who shows everyone how to do descents or cyclocross? Or is he a cyclocrosser who shows how mountainbiking is done? Its pretty obvious right haha. He is, just like MvdP, a cyclocrosser who shows mountainbikers how mountainbiking is done. Not talking downhill mtb, of course

[@staggabob]

Tom's incredible but how about some recognition for the camera bike pilot and cameraman in this descent. Tipping that heavy bike with 2 people and all the gear through these tight turns while avoiding the riders takes real skill!

[@boiledelephant]

I actually find the idea of being a motorbike pillion cameraman slightly more terrifying, at least Tom is in control of his vehicle.

[@LeSkazi]

Mad skills, big respect.

[@fenderac3049]

Man and machine as one - brilliant.

[@leesaunders7232]

I never thought Cancellara descending like a rocket in between the cars and bikes in 2009 could be topped.... but here we are🤯🤯🤯

[@alanwllms5172]

For those who can remember, Cancellara in 2009 through the cars

[@thingswelike]

That was what sprung immediately to my mind too

[@pippy4658]

I believe hes currently one of the best descenders in the world.

[@stevebrown7281]

No one will beat him descending when he wants to go fast that’s why he’s the best in the world on a MTB and top 3 in the world at CX😊👍

[@stewartmalcolm2539]

Top 3 ??? He's world champion

[@stephenbrook65]

@@stewartmalcolm2539 indeed, and deservedly so - but MvdP and WvA weren’t at the CX Worlds this year

[@aiarta2280]

@@stewartmalcolm2539 Ehm. You putting Pidcock above WvA and MvdP lol?

[@michaelfink5054]

Those descending skills are ridiculous. 😮😮😮

[@craigevans8912]

Incredible descending 🤯

[@bertvanhoofstat7700]

I don't think that he necessarily chooses a better path through the corner than the other riders, as I hear the commentators suggest. To me it seems that he is just able to leaning into the corners a bit more and thus going through them at a slightly higher speed. I think he is just more confident in knowing what angle the bike and tires can handle.

[@deadnicedave]

Speeds of up to 120 kph puts this into context. Context is Unreal. Crazy skills from Pidcock

[@BurtRamos]

He's amazing

[@helenatrela786]

Incredible. Love it

[@redred9882]

Nice to hear Sean Kelly - legend 😎

[@johnweaire3389]

Leg End 🤩🤩🤩

[@redred9882]

@@johnweaire3389 ?

[@andreijosefsee7503]

still watching this since tadej pogaçar wins the tour de frnace🎉

[@ScotchNWry]

There’s a guy I ride with is an excellent descender. What’s weird is I have slotted in behind the guy and taken exactly the same lines but he still pulls away quickly. It must be the way he can shift his weight at the right time. These guys are all elite so all brilliant but if you have a gift you have a gift.

[@starkwelfrenzy3486]

Man and bike as one. Fabulous. Possible TDF winner of the future.

[@liviosinibaldi3632]

Just, wow!!!

[@zarsvirus]

His skills are excellent...

[@olivermarx1243]

This is art

[@tomrees4812]

The first time I remember seeing TP race was in a wet criterium at Aberystwyth and I thought that was more impressive because of the uncertain grip. I can see how cycle cross skills helped him there but I’d be interested to hear someone like Mark Cavendish’s opinion about this descent because the sprinters rely on the descents to make up the time they have lost on the climb to make the time limit. Wasn’t Pidcock somewhat responsible for the crash in Liege Bastogne Liege which wrecked Julian Alaphillipe’s season? You’re a great bike handler - until you fall off…

[@divisiona3974]

Beautiful! Wow.

[@natti4723]

That was pretty satisfaying.

[@Yaketyyak21]

And kudos to the motorbike driver behind him…

[@markdowse3572]

TP makes PROFESSIONAL cyclists almost look like 'beginners' on this descent! 😲😲 Amazing skill and courage. Well done, sir. 👍 M 🦘🏏😎

[@flipooh]

He does. Although our friend isn’t a pro when he does descend it will make you just say wow! He was an ex mountain biker too. Just amazing skills even if he isn’t a pro

[@BeatPoet67]

Would love to see him trying a moto GP bike or F1 car. Totally transferable skills. The intersection of space, time, mechanics and feeling how close you are to oblivion.

[@jalford5089]

Does he ride a motorcycle? He bloody should!

[@ryand141]

Which col is this he's descending, croix de fer?

[@maurodebaets]

insane skills

[@36moto]

Tom does know where the bend is, he knows where the entry point and apex is because he's reading the road, he's interpreting visual information faster than the others, he is looking further ahead and able to read the limit points ... Adam was right about the late turn in Tom's planning so far ahead he is flowing at full gas into the bends ... classic high level roadcraft and his unbelievable skill are combining to produce speed...

[@ironmantooltime]

Lets not get carried away. He's a fnck sight smaller which means his tyres have exponentially more proportional grip per kilo of bodyweight meaning he can apply cornering torque that would literally send them flying. Much lower center of gravity. But yea, some talent.

[@h4nn0S]

Is it Olli Bridgewood Commentary from GCN?

[@ianknealy2843]

Beautiful

[@NielsDeBoeck]

INEOS Grenadiers!!!!!

[@lmadigan1971]

Love this

[@Atzan]

He just ate Louvel and Powless for lunch. You're going down a mountain at insane speeds and then Pidcock flies past you swigging on his bidon. 😆

[@MrBonzo1963]

Insane !!!

[@c0mm3nt-m8e]

Should go according to official speed limit or pay fines

[@RevoltingRudi]

late apex and hard turn in on entry. he rides like a motocycle rider.

[@WeirdNeville]

Plus feint motion into the bends, and actual hanging off the side of the bike. There's some beautiful examples of him setting up entry for the upcoming bend on exit of the previous one too - the commentators say 'he doesn't know the descent' but to my mind he absolutely *Does* or at least key parts of it. Magical stuff.

[@nickmaclachlan5178]

@@WeirdNeville Commentators said they rode up it the day before, so the corners must have been pretty fresh in the memory banks. Plus teams train on these specific roads, so there's every chance he's descended it multiple times in the past?

[@WeirdNeville]

@@nickmaclachlan5178 it was literally the reverse route of the climb the previous day, and it's a very famous climb/descent outside of that. So they'll have knowledge. however, how they apply that knowledge is where the talent lies!

[@lynnebarkas6906]

Low centre of gravity. 👍

[@raskolnikov1242]

Savoldelli and even Nibali are very tall and they among the best descenders

[@akidna14]

Roadbiker outside, Downhiller inside.

[@colinlangridge6849]

Send it!

[@Lumbkwof]

I don't know why but at moments this gave me Isle of Man TT vibes

[@jasinter9251]

only one word: daredevil 👍🏻

[@eccehomer8182]

Pidcock does MotoGP!

[@robinaguirre7714]

This guy descends like he doesn't have a loving family 😂

[@jortand]

That’s skill

[@giuseppemodenesi3046]

Fantastico

[@warrencapon6442]

I wished they would have shown the tyres, just to see how feathered they would/could have been.

[@johnvaranakis9846]

100 kph descent. Scary.

[@patrickbateman80]

the scariest thing is to see is these streets without guard rails!!!

[@WILLIAM1690WALES]

You can look you can admire but if you are an amateur or a good cyclist do not do this you will not end up being in a good place of all good and professional cyclist this is only for the one Percenters dare I say a true genius he will win the Tour de France in the next 10 years I would be highly surprised if he does not almost certainly with the energy ineos team and David Brailsford.🇬🇧👌🇬🇧

[@chaiinspace2]

What sort of speeds is he doing here?

[@xBALL3R]

80-100kmh

[@paulm2467]

He was clocked at 105kph at one point, he said ‘great I’ve never been over 100 before’ incredible!

[@malcolmbagley7068]

@@paulm2467 Tire, wheel manufacture and wheel builder probably all had their hearts in their mouths!

[@treadtyred9742]

@@paulm2467 110kph as been mention now. I know he can ride lower tyre pressures than the heavier riders but that was just class riding.

[@RevoltingRudi]

fastest ever recorded was around 127-130km/h from a german rider. those guys are mental.

[@sandrac3517]

At 3.11 the commentator said he doesn't know where the exit is, that's not correct, if you read the bend (like TP is) you know exactly where it is, a skill that I thought would be thought to all road cyclists.

[@autarko]

No it might be a hairpin and it might get sharper half way through. You can't always see.

[@KleineJoop]

@@autarko I need to remember this if i ever cycle off a mountain like that, or i'll die lol

[@autarko]

@@KleineJoop That's right. Also pay attention to changes in the road surface and use about 30% higher pressure in the rear tyre.

[@2.old4this]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 I don’t recall ‘Pidcock’ trying to follow the two Flanders Flappers: either down, with Pidcock riding like a MOTO GP pro, nor along the flats with Chris Frome as Tom’s personal time trial lead-out and definitely not up The Alpe d’Huez: itself. Messrs Waffles no where to be seen!! stage 12 TDF 2022. Alpe D’Huez smashed in red and white: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 Tom will win 5 stages in TDF this year and 5 in Giro. ….

[@aiarta2280]

Messrs waffles? Giro wont work Im afraid

[@paulhiggins9492]

Brilliant, 23mm gp continental 110 psi, latex tubes, that's the reality I know I was there, forget the wide 28mm milky filled low bar tyre pressures, marketing bull again and again, UCI stopped weighing tour bikes this year what a surprise, Tom's bike was 8.2kg, lighter bikes 20 years ago, marketing bull all the time, as an OCD mechanic for 50 yes trust me I really know.

[@autarko]

Do they run the same pressures front and rear?

[@iancrichton]

The agility, strength and balance of a MTB rider combined with a tough, strong lightweight road rider will only bring success for Pidcock in tour riding. I hope he keeps at it.

[@HennieBours]

Maybe he first got a master class of Valentino Rossi.

[@raskolnikov1242]

that's as much dangerous as Tourist Trophy. Almost the same risks.

[@deemdoubleu]

I just don't get how he trained for this. I mean, I know there are plenty of hills in Yorkshire, I travel there every day but they are full of traffic and sheep.

[@lesterwoodall4199]

Sorry but ya can't compare it to Football, this is top level Grand Tour cycling.

[@flipooh]

There are parallel to geniuses in different sport. Different sport but the same level of talent which just makes you say wow, amazing etc…

[@wangdangdoodie]

Football is a game played by men pretending to be hurt. Rugby is a game played by men pretending not to be hurt!

[@holeintheleg]

Sublime - nu breed

[@punkywozza4330]

I'd love to have a go on that road with a longboard.

[@cont3ssa]

Wow, did anyone see such a deep lean angle from another pro rider? Probably he got special lessons from Superbike Champion Johnathan Rea.

[@dalis994]

Amazing performance, bouche-bée

[@Philatlondon1]

Road it like a motorcyclist. The majority of cyclists don't have a clue on technique to get the bike to flick like that to square the turn.

[@kingrafa3938]

1:00

[@aintnobodygottime4dat]

at least he didn't headbutt anyone this time.

[@kearywilson8156]

A joy to watch , no doubt he has skill but how much of his skill and knowledge is down to the fact that the roads are closed and he's has the comfort of knowing there no vehicle's on the road or worst still coming head on ??

[@TheXtrafresh]

Do you see all those riders that he is passing like they are traffic cones? For god's sake, that's four time TDF winner Chris Froome he's passing. They are clearly on the same road as he is. He is showing that he can stand head and shoulders above the field, while the field is made of the absolute top echelon of cyclists on the world. It's a masterpiece.

[@rob-c.]

None

[@iceguy8112]

This is almost f1 type apex yk?

[@jochem1986]

Get this boy on a MotoGP bike. I’m curious how he’ll do.

[@rackpunch4026]

It's easy - no trees, holes, drops or roots, just road..........

[@DynamiteDB]

Tom Bigcock

[@gustavonomura6285]

Hope the dude made sure his health insurance was paid before descending

[@ippusor]

One of very few occasions where I see a cyclist ride the apex almost as good as a motogp rider

[@aiarta2280]

Look up ´Samuel Sanchez G´. He had a history with riding motorcycles professionaly haha. And it showed

[@winniethepooh992]

TOM BIGCOCK :D

[@EvQuistorff]

You can't learn to descend. You have got it or you haven't.

[@TheMortenbrenoe]

Mathias Norsgaard, Movistar still have the KOM downhill from Galibier. 35s quicker than Pidcock :) Pidcock is 12th

[@redd605]

Does a Olympic champion have there own jerseys to wear in the tour the France , like the world champion.and why was the multicoloured jerseys not used anymore.

[@thingswelike]

You can't wear them across disciplines - so he can't wear his CX or MTB honours while on road.

[@MotRi1986]

Nope but the last three olympic champions in the road race have been wearing a golden helmet so they are easy to spot for TV vewers. They still use rainbow jerseyes but the current world champion Julian Allaphilippe isent in the tour this year. In fact he is having a horrible season due to crashes, he had first a horrible crash in Strade Bianche mid march then an even worse one in Liege-Bastogne Liege roughly a month later.

[@redd605]

@@MotRi1986 probably a copyright issue and organisations.

[@MotRi1986]

@@redd605 ye the Olympics is hosted by IOC while other championships organized by the international cycling federation UCI have their own jerseyes the rides can wear, aka national and continental championship. The golden helmet is basically a compromise that both UCI and IoC have accepted.

[@Jestymesty]

He is going passed the other cyclists as if they were tourist riders!