Tom Pidcock comes from behind to win opening round of Shimano MTB Super Cup

Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot both started their seasons with wins in the first round of the Shimano MTB Super Cup in La Nucia this weekend.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won Saturday's elite women's race on her 32nd birthday, with Pidcock coming from behind to win Sunday's men's race.

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Pidcock, who will make his 2024 road debut at the Volta ao Algarve on Wednesday, had to battle back after Samuel Gaze opened up an early lead over the six-lap race. At one point the New Zealander was eight seconds clear of the world champion but by lap four Pidcock had caught the Alpecin rider.

The pair traded turns on the front for the next lap and at one point a series of accelerations from Gaze appeared to create daylight between him and Pidcock. However, Pidcock battled back one more and on the final lap he put in a stinging attack that finally broke Gaze's resolve.

Pidcock finished 25 seconds clear of Gaze with David Valero Serrano in third.

"I've been on a long training camp now so it was a bit difficult to get into the race rhythm," Pidcock said at the finish.

"But I think the endurance came out in the end. It's difficult on the explosive climbs but it's a nice way to start the year. Having a battle with Sam seems to be becoming a regular thing in mountain bike racing, so more of that this year," he said.

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In the women's race Pauline Ferrand-Prévot was making her first mountain bike appearance since last August and she was quickly amongst the action, forging clear on the second lap with Savilia Blunk.

The American would suffer a slow puncture, with Ferrand-Prévot soloing to the win ahead of Nicole Koller, and Blunk completing the podium.