Just 48 hours after Tom Pidcock won the Strade Bianche, Filippo Ganna took the win in the 11.5km opening time trial.

Pidcock's victory in a 50km solo attack in Siena showed the Yorkshireman's potential and determination in his second major classic of the season.

Jumbo Visma and former Ineos driver Dylan van Baarle dominated Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but Ineos responded in Italy, much to the delight of team manager Rod Ellingworth. [Winning at Strade Bianche lifted the spirits of the entire team. It's a great feeling," Ellingworth told Cycling News at Tirreno-Adriatico.

"Tom did well. For his bike skills, climbing ability, and hunger, there is no better bike race. Strade Bianche was his first big goal for 2023. It was the reason he did not compete in the World Cyclocross Championships, and it proved to be the right choice.

Ellingworth recognized Pidcock's character in his victory at Stradde Bianche, and the 23-year-old felt a special motivation, not fear, for the big race.

"I told him earlier that I was impressed with his run. Most people would have given up when the time gap to the rest of the field was down to eight seconds, but he didn't. Ellingworth said, "I was very impressed with the way he rode.

"I like that about bike riders. It was impressive, but that's Tom's character. He can step up at the important moments. That's how special riders step up. Last year's Tour de France, his victory in L'Alpe d'Huez, the Olympic mountain bike race. It was impressive to see him do that again on Saturday."

Ellingworth admits that he likes the sense of competition within the team. It has to be managed, but it helps everyone perform better."

"I think it's a good thing that we have a good team,"

"I think it's a good thing that we have a good team.

"At Ineos Grenadiers we like ambitious young riders," Ellingworth said with a smile.

"I like that kind of pressure within the team. We've always talked about the pressure from the younger riders to the older riders. Look at the performance of Geraint Thomas last year. That's exactly what you want."

"Last year, Tom was putting his foot down. We gave him some time, but he saw guys like Magnus Sheffield win races last year, and he wanted that too. He's really ambitious

"We're in the process of developing some ambitious young riders over the next few years. I think we will see them in action very soon."

Pidcock won the 2020 under-23 Giro d'Italia, took gold in the mountain bike cross-country competition at the Tokyo Olympics, and won a stage to L'Alpe d'Huez in the Tour de France in his 2022 debut.

While aiming for a Grand Tour in the near future is a natural career move, Pidcock has always rebelled against being pigeonholed or forced to give up other cycling goals.

Ellingworth is well aware of Pidcock's stage racing potential and is happy to see Pidcock's career path take its own course, perhaps with guidance and support from Ineos.

Fortunately for Ellingworth and the team, Pidcock has agreed to a new five-year contract with the team through the end of 2027.

"'Is Tom going to be the next GC leader? ' But we keep going and going and going. That's what we do," Ellingworth explained.

"We never thought Geraint Thomas would win the Tour when he was 21 or 22. So we look at these riders and think, 'Why can't they win a Grand Tour?'"

"A lot of it is their willpower and whether they want it or not. In modern cycling, I don't see why they can't win a Grand Tour and more." Taddei Pogachar has won the Classics and the Grand Tours and will be riding in Flanders again this year. They are all talented and I don't think they are what they used to be. So with the right support and training they can all win if they set their sights well."

"We expect Tom to compete in the Tour this year and I think he will progress. He will continue to progress as he wants to and hopefully he can progress with us."