Although still too young to defend his title in the under-23 race, Tom Pidcock (GBR) will take on Mathieu van der Poel (GBR) in the elite men's race of the UEC Cyclocross European Championships next weekend in Silvelle di Trebaseleghe, Italy. (Netherlands) and Eli Iserbyt (Belgium) in the elite men's race at the UEC Cyclocross European Championships in Silvelle di Trebaseleghe, Italy next weekend.

The Briton is running his first full season of elite cyclo-cross racing and opted not to drop down a grade for the European Championships, preferring to compare himself to van der Poel and his peers The 2019 UEC Cyclo-cross European Championships will be held on November 10

"I achieved everything I wanted in the U23 and I am looking forward to testing myself in the elite," Pidcock said in a statement released by the race organization. I've never run the Silvelle course, but from what I've seen, it's a good course with all the right elements." It depends on how well Van der Pol does when he comes back. Iserbitt is in really good shape right now and has been almost unbeatable so far. They are definitely players to watch."

Pidcock has already won European titles at both the junior and under-23 levels, but he downplayed the prospect of completing this set next Sunday.

"It might be a little early for the elite," he said. I'm always looking to win, but this season it's about getting used to the elite level. My goal is to get on the podium, and if I can do that, I'll be happy."

Van der Poel will make his first cyclo-cross appearance of the season on Sunday in the Superprestige race in Ruddervoorde. Iserbyt finished second in the Coppencross, soloing 28 seconds ahead of Pidcock, while Michael Vanthourenhout was another minute back in third place.

Last month, Pidcock said he was encouraged by his contemporary Yzerbito's success so far at the top level before his first winter as an elite athlete. Pidcock defeated Yzerbito to win the under-23 world title in 2019 after the Belgian won the rainbow jersey 12 months earlier.

Pidcock also enjoyed success on the road in 2019, winning Paris-Roubaix under 23 and taking bronze in the under 23 road race at the World Championships in his native Yorkshire. Despite interest from WorldTour teams, Pidcock has chosen to continue to ride under-23 road in 2020 and, like Van der Pol and the injured Wout Van Aert, is committed to both road and cyclo-cross for the foreseeable future.

"It's good to keep the engine warm in the winter. It goes a little against the traditional way of cycling, but our sport has changed a lot," Pidcock said. 'It might have been forbidden in the past, but now we are allowed to race multiple disciplines. My motivation has always been very high; I love racing and competing. If I couldn't race in the winter, I would be bored."