After winning Strade Bianche in spectacular fashion, Ineos Grenadiers rider Tom Pidcock was forced to abandon Tirreno-Adriatico on Sunday after crashing shortly after the start of that race’s final stage.
Now, three days later, his team has announced he will not be able to start Milan-San Remo this Saturday due to mild concussion symptoms.
This morning, Ineo Grenadiers tweeted a statement, reading in part that Pidcock has been “undergoing continuous monitoring by the team’s doctors following his crash on the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico. After presenting symptoms of a mild concussion, Tom will be now be rested for a prescribed period, in line with established concussion protocols.”
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The statement concluded stating “Rider welfare is our first priority and [Pidcock will] follow the advice of our medial team to ensure that he’s 100% ready to safely resume his Classics campaign.”
The statement did not mention when the 23-year-old Pidcock might return to the starting line. However, UCI regulations state that a minimum of one symptom-free week must be observed before a rider returns to racing.
Prior to 2020, the UCI had no official protocol for concussions. That was changed in the wake of an uptick in concussions and head injuries reported by racers and teams.
Pidcock has been on great form this season, winning Strade Bianche in an instant-classic 50km solo attack. He was one of the favorites for Milan-San Remo, this season’s first monument.
Michael Venutolo-Mantovani is a writer and musician based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He loves road and track cycling, likes gravel riding, and can often be found trying to avoid crashing his mountain bike.
