After last year's second-place finish, Tom Pidcock heads into Sunday's Amstel Gold Race as one of the favorites to win the race behind 2019 winner and local favorite Mathieu Van Der Pol.

However, the Briton's chances of making it to the top step of the podium appear to have taken a hit after he admitted to suffering from poor health heading into the race.

At the start of the Amstel Gold Race in Maastricht on Sunday morning, Pidcock told the assembled media, including Cycling News, that despite his best efforts, he was unable to stay healthy.

"I am very frustrated that I was not in good shape this week. I tried everything to stay healthy and now it's like a potluck."

"But I'm at the starting line and I'll give it my best today," he concluded.

Pidcock, who recently signed a five-year contract with the Ineos Grenadiers, was already suffering from an illness during this spring campaign.

The 22-year-old missed the Strade Bianche in March with a stomach complaint and retired with the same problem after dropping out of the peloton on the Capi climb during the Milan-San Remo.

He returned a week later in Ghent-Wevelgem and finished 14th in last week's Tour of Flanders after finishing third in Dwars door Hlaanderen. Pidcock suggested that the 272 km distance in Flanders could have been affected by his illness, and the 254 km and 33 hills in the Amstel Gold Race also raised questions before he revealed his illness.

Despite his illness, Pidcock said he intends to enjoy the day's racing, but it remains to be seen whether he will be among the top contenders on the final three climbs (Cauberg, Goalhemmerberg, and Bemelberg).

"It's a really good race here," he said. I love running around here." I love racing here. It's a new track for me because I didn't race here last year. So I'm just looking forward to the experience of the other riders and having some fun."