Britain's Tom Pidcock reacts jubilantly to record-breaking debut Tour de France stage win on iconic Alpe d’Huez

Britain's Tom Pidcock is in ecstasy after pulling off a record-breaking debut win on the iconic Alpe d'Huez climb in Stage 12 of the Tour de France. The 22-year-old team Ineos Grenadiers rider became the youngest in history to lead the field up the storied peak, breaking Colombian Luis «Lucho» Herrera's 36-year-old record. Ad/> After completing his astonishing ascent, Pidcock was initially speechless.

«I can't explain it,» a slightly overwhelmed Pidcock said. Tour de France'No regrets' — Froome 'gave it everything' on remarkable Stage 12 comeback2 HOURS AGO «It’s made my Tour de France. Even if I get dropped on every other day now I don’t care.

Stage win in my first Tour, it’s not bad is it? It's not bad.» Pidcock gave a thrilling, magisterial display of descent riding, when he slashed a two-minute gap to the breakaway leaders, which he afterwards attributed to his school days. «I rode to school every day. I always took a detour through the woods.

You know, drifting through the woods in the mud. I’d come home and my uniform was all dirty. I guess I’ve just become very used to riding a bike and handling it in situations where it’s on the limit of control.

I’ve a very good understanding of my bike as well. The tyre grip, and everything like that. I guess it kind of comes a bit naturally», he said.

After the descent, Pidcock confronted the infamous climb alone. With only a single rider on the road, the famously fearless French fans — in vintage form late on a scorching bank holiday Thursday — crowded in all around Pidcock. The young Briton revelled in the pressure, saying «you have to just basically pray that everyone's going to move out your way.