Tom Pidcock’s autumn campaign has been a mix of strong results and near misses, with six top-10 finishes in his last seven races. His only victory came early in this stretch at a lower-tier race in Italy. At the World Championships, Pidcock was optimistic but finished seventh, his second-best result there, demonstrating consistent performance yet falling short of expectations.

With Tadej Pogacar sidelined due to injury, this season presented an opportunity for Pidcock to step into the limelight. However, he has yet to fully capitalize on this chance. His recent performance at the Giro dell’Emilia highlighted this trend; despite being a favorite and showing strong form on the steep climbs, he let Davide Piganzoli slip away, finishing second by just two seconds after a late push.

Pidcock, now labeled as cycling’s nearly man, feels the sting of missed opportunities. Even with a team designed to support him, he lacks the star power needed for major victories. His impressive results in recent years, including a third at the Vuelta a Espana and a ninth at the Tour de France, showcase his potential, but he craves wins over mere top-10 finishes.

Il Lombardia offers him a prime opportunity to change his narrative. As the final Monument of the year, it could mark the biggest one-day win of his career, surpassing even his famous victory on Alpe d’Huez. Last year, he finished sixth, and with a lighter autumn schedule and no Pogacar to contend with, the dynamics have shifted in his favor.

Pidcock has been racing conservatively lately, attempting to strike a balance between covering moves and preserving energy for a sprint. However, this strategy has sometimes left him out of position at critical moments. The recent World Championships highlighted a persistent issue in cycling where many riders hesitate to chase down escapees, resulting in missed opportunities that Pidcock must overcome to secure his first major victory.