AN Olympic cyclist with strong links to Bradford has been described as a 'once in a generation' rider after he stormed to gold at the 2020 Tokyo games.

Tom Pidcock won the men’s mountain bike race by 20 seconds to capture Britain's first ever medal of any colour in the event.

The 21-year-old Yorkshireman started on the fourth row but quickly got himself into the leading group and powered his way past the Swiss pair of Mathias Flueckiger and Nino Schurter to take control on the fourth of seven laps.

Flueckiger was the only man who could even remotely keep up as Pidcock kept the power down and even had time to snatch a Union Flag and hold it aloft as he crossed the line.

Pidcock adds the Olympic mountain bike title to his already long and diverse list of accolades, having won world titles in cyclo-cross, road and mountain bike events at under-23 level.

He is originally from Otley but was previously a Paul Milnes team member, racing for the Bradford-based business for a couple of years. In the past, he also opened a purpose-built cycling track at Horton Park Primary School on the Canterbury estate.

Oliver Milnes, Paul's son, said: "You won’t ever see anybody like him again, he was unbelievable. The best rider this country will produce in a generation.

"He just loved riding his bike. Instead of being really serious about it, he was so relaxed with it. His physique is perfect for it, he is light and his power-to-weight ratio is really good. He must have the heart and lungs of an ox.

"You could see he was something really special when you watched him race in the under-16s. He has worked hard to finesse his talent and use it to the best of his ability.

"He could win a stage at the Tour De France or do whatever he wants with that training ethos he has got.

"Mountain biking has lost its way in the last few years in the UK. With these younger guys coming through, like Tom, it will get a bit of a resurgence."

Proud mum Sonja, 53, said she knew when Tom just four years old that he was born to ride on two wheels.

Watching with her husband Giles Pidcock, 54, from their home in Leeds she said they felt ‘relief and elation’.

Sonja, a fitness instructor, said: “I’m feeling relief and elated, and really emotional. A bit sad we can’t be with Tom, and can’t celebrate tonight.

“I’ve been crying all morning, but in the end, I just feel completely delighted for Tom after everything he’s done to get here.

“I wish we could be with him but I can cope with that, he did just win a gold medal.”

She added: “From when he was four you could tell he was so skilful on the bike. He had a cheap bike but it felt like it belonged to him.

“We knew he would be an amazing cyclist but even this is beyond our wildest dreams.”

Tom, nicknamed ‘Tigger’ by his family as he is always ‘bouncing around’, will turn 22 on Friday and can expect an Olympic celebration when he returns home next Monday.

Sonja added: “We never thought about the Olympics because Tom was always a road cyclist.

“But this is the best birthday present he could have ever asked for. When he’s back, we’re going to have some great celebrations.”

Mum Sonja said that he has devoted his life to the sport which takes up 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

She said: “We haven’t ever had a family holiday for as long as I can remember because we went for training camps.

“During Covid he has worked on his own in Andorra, his girlfriend has been in England. It’s hard work, and it’s lonely.

“It’s eating right, sleeping right, missing your family, all the time.

“It’s 24/7. He’s so dedicated to his training.”

Sonja, whose youngest son Joe is also a professional cyclist, said that despite the heroic achievement she was proudest of the ‘young man Tom has become’.

She said: “I’m so proud of his achievements and of course this brilliant result in Tokyo, but the kind of young man he has become is what makes me the proudest.”

Tom sports a chain with the Yorkshire rose during his races as well as Whitby Jet earrings so he ‘carries Yorkshire with him’.

Another Otley cyclist Lizzie Deignan could not follow in Pidcock's footsteps as she finished 11th in the Women’s Road Race.

Elsewhere, at the games, our other local stars suffered mixed fortunes. Bingley Harrier and former Bradford Grammar student Jonny Brownlee failed to capture a third successive Olympic medal in the men’s triathlon, finishing in fifth place.

Leeds diver Matty Lee helped Tom Daley achieve Olympic glory at a fourth attempt by partnering him in the synchronised 10 metres platform.

The duo finished with 471.81 points having never dropped out of the top two and took the gold 1.23 points ahead of China.

Leeds City Council leader James Lewis said: “On behalf of the city of Leeds, I would like to congratulate diver Matty Lee and mountain biker Tom Pidcock on their fantastic gold medal success at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“This is a truly wonderful achievement and a fitting reward for their hard work and dedication over many, many years to now reach the pinnacle of their respectful sports. To see athletes from our city on the Olympic podium is always a very special moment, and I know the people of Leeds will be feeling very proud of both Matty and Tom.”

Watch out for Cleckheaton diver Lois Toulson, 21, tomorrow (7am) as she and Eden Cheng compete in the 10m synchronised platform.