Tom Pidcock targeting a Grand Tour podium
In December 2024, it was announced he would be leaving Ineos, despite signing a five-year contract in 2022, and shortly afterwards, a three-year deal was struck with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. The decision raised more than a few eyebrows as Q36.5 are a UCI ProTeam, meaning they compete at the second-highest level of pro road cycling, just below WorldTour teams. But from his results this year, Pidcock may have been vindicated.
In his first race for his new team, the 26-year-old claimed his first GC triumph at the AlUla Tour. He then finished third overall at the Vuelta a Andalucia, second in the Strade Bianche, and 16th in the Giro d’Italia general classification standings. He also won the MTB cross-country European Championship title and the Andorra World Cup race.
Now, with Q36.5 being awarded a wildcard place at the Vuelta, Pidcock has chosen to skip the MTB Worlds in September – and another potential battle with his old rival Mathieu van der Poel – to see if he can take the next step in his development and challenge for a Grand Tour podium place.
“It’s a shame, because I would have loved to race, especially to battle Mathieu, but I want to focus more on the road and we’re building up our team,” Pidcock told De Telegraaf. “So it makes sense for me to ride the Vuelta.
“Getting on the podium would be amazing, but winning a Grand Tour is the hardest thing in the world for me. I know what it’s like to win a one-day race, but a Grand Tour? That’s a different story.
“My time trial still needs to improve a lot, but maybe I can aim for a top 10.”
A podium place may seem unlikely, but then again, Pidcock likes nothing better than beating the odds.