Pidcock makes it four in a row at Nove Mesto

Tom Pidcock made it a perfect day in Czechia for the INEOS Grenadiers with an emphatic victory in the World Cup XCO race at Nove Mesto.

The world champion claimed an incredible fourth successive XCO victory on the classic course, taking an eventual winning margin of 32 seconds over Nino Schurter (Scott-Sram MTB).

Pidcock worked his way through the pack early on following a fast start from the lead contenders. A group formed at the head of the race, but by lap three the Brit was looking to seize the initiative, accelerating to drag clear Schurter and Victor Koretzky.

On lap four Pidcock was able to drop Schurter for good, and then set about maintaining the gap throughout the remaining laps.

Victory backed up that of team-mate Pauline Ferrand-Prevot earlier in the day, as both world champions made a winning return to the World Cup circuit.

"Once I got going I got to the front and was able to find my own pace. That was important on this track - it's so many lines and every lap I was just taking a different line to be honest everywhere. I can be quite pleased with that for my first race of the year. When I'm putting big hours in on the road it's quite different to coming here and smashing it for an hour and a half. I think I can be pretty pleased with that."