Tom Pidcock finished 42nd in the UCI Road World Championship road race in Imola.

The winner of this year's Baby Giro and future Ineos rider spent most of his Elite World Championship debut at the front of the peloton. This race was the longest of his career and would have placed him in the U23 category in a normal World Championships, but since COVID-19 was restricted to elite riders only, the British rider received an exemption from the category upgrade.

The British team had a modest hope with Pidcock, and Luke Rowe kept his future trade teammate Pidcock out of the wind as they raced. However, on the last lap, Pidcock ran out of gas just as the race was about to end.

"To be fair, it was a mega experience. I had no legs. But I went in with confidence and ran with the intention of being in position to win. But I didn't have the endurance or the legs.

"There was no pressure. That's what I came here for. It's for the future. Every climb was a little bit more on my legs, and 260 km is really long. The last lap, all I could do was run. I was on full gas. I am 21 years old and leading the elite race when I should be in the U23 race. It was a good day and a good experience. It will help me in the future when I have the legs to win."

Pidcock has been making sensational progress in the sport over the past few seasons. He combines his passion for cyclocross with the ability to mix road and mountain biking, but by 2021 his focus will be closer to his future as a road rider. His full program has yet to be announced, but his debut World Tour campaign will focus on the spring classics.

"I'm going to get through the winter and make the Classics my goal. That will be my goal. I just want to build up my endurance."

Lowe, who captained the British team and kept Pidcock in the field as long as possible, praised his young teammate. [because there is no shame in a young lad competing in a 270km World Championships and fainting after 250km.

"This team is for the future and I think he can be proud of what he has accomplished. He has tested himself out there and right up to the moment he exploded, he was doing everything right. My job was to stay with him and nurse him as long as I could. He can hold his head up high."