ANALYSIS: What does Tom Pidcock’s transfer mean for Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and the other wildcard teams

The announcement that Tom Pidcock is leaving INEOS Grenadiers to join Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team for the next three seasons has been a long time coming, but that makes the choice of team no less surprising For a rider of Pidcock’s status, a double Olympic mountain biking champion, a Tour de France stage winner, and a classics specialist, to move from a WorldTour team to a ProTeam raises many questions about his motivations and what this means for his new team.

At face value, the transfer might seem puzzling, but when you dig deeper into the details, it reflects both the ambitions of Q36.5 and just how bad things have got at the INEOS Grenadiers.

In professional cycling, WorldTour teams represent the pinnacle of the sport, competing in all the events across the UCI WorldTour calendar, which includes the Grand Tours, monuments, and other prestigious races. These teams are guaranteed entry to all WorldTour events, enjoy substantial budgets, and attract the sport’s top talents. ProTeams, like Q36.5, sit one tier below. While they compete in UCI ProSeries events and can participate in WorldTour races, their access to the latter is limited to wildcard invitations granted by race organizers.

The gap between the two tiers is large both in resources and capabilities. WorldTour teams often have resources that dwarf those of ProTeams, enabling them to maintain larger rosters, sophisticated training programs, and cutting-edge technology. ProTeams, meanwhile, operate on smaller budgets and rely heavily on wildcard entries to gain exposure at marquee events. These wildcard slots are limited and fiercely contested, often going to teams with strong performances or strategic sponsorship alignments. ProTeams often act as a springboard for riders looking to jump up and secure a big contract with a WorldTour team.

Relegation and promotion between the WorldTour and ProTeam levels, introduced as part of the UCI’s points-based system, adds further complexity, but bare with. Lotto Dstny’s relegation to ProTeam status after the 2022 season is even more confusing considering their ninth-place finish in the 2024 UCI rankings, ahead of WorldTour mainstays like Movistar Team and Groupama-FDJ. The system, though designed to reward performance, highlights the fine margins that can determine a team’s status and future prospects. In 2024, Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team ranked 25th with 3,603.8 points, a significant distance from Lotto Dstny’s impressive tally of 12,579.3 points.

Pidcock’s move from INEOS (seventh in the rankings with 15,548 points) to Q36.5 might seem like a step down on paper. But why has Pidcock decided to take a leap down the UCI rankings and join his new Swiss team?

Tom Pidcock’s decision to leave INEOS Grenadiers has been brewing for some time, and the transfer saga has been the story of the off season so far. While INEOS remains one of the most prestigious teams in cycling, it has faced very public internal challenges and external criticism in recent years. Declining form, strategic missteps, and leadership issues have clouded what was once the sport’s dominant team. We’ve previously analysed INEOS’s struggles and have pointed to a lack of clear direction, with too many riders vying for leadership roles and loss of direction and identity at the grand tours. Pidcock himself had openly expressed frustration at the team’s reluctance to fully back him as a leader in marquee events like the Tour de France, and the man from Leeds never really pushed on from his Alpe d’Huez win at the 2022 Tour.

In his statement announcing the move, Pidcock said, “This isn't just a change of jersey; it's the start of something special. The chance to work with a team that's growing, with incredible partners and brands, is something that motivates me."

His words suggest a desire to carve out a more prominent role, free from the constraints of INEOS’s crowded leadership hierarchy. While his multi-disciplinary ambitions in mountain biking and cyclocross have earned him global recognition, they may have clashed with INEOS’s road-focused priorities.

At Q36.5, Pidcock has the opportunity to lead a team and shape its trajectory, this can truly be his team. The ProTeam is positioning itself as an ambitious project, and Pidcock’s signing signals their intent to compete at the highest level. The transfer also reflects Pidcock’s broader career goals, which may include greater freedom to pursue his off-road ambitions whilst finding out what his true ambitions are on the road.

Pidcock’s arrival at Q36.5 immediately raises the team’s profile, but it also presents challenges, particularly in gaining access to the races that matter most. As a ProTeam, Q36.5 is not guaranteed a spot in the Grand Tours, which are critical platforms for riders like Pidcock to showcase their talent. Wildcard invitations for non-WorldTour teams are limited and subject to the discretion of race organizers, who typically consider factors such as the team’s performance, roster strength, and sponsorship connections. Can you imagine if Pidcock isn’t able to compete at any grand tour in 2025?

At this year’s Vuelta, wildcard team Equipo Kern Pharma were one of the highlights of the show. The team picked up not one win, not two, but three amazing stage victories, the last of which won by Urko Berrade on stage 18. Then there’s Lotto Dstny, who throughout the 2024 were comfortably at the level required to be a WorldTour team, despite not officially having the license.

For Q36.5, Pidcock’s signing bolsters their chances of securing invitations to the Grand Tours, and that will undoubtedly be one of the reasons they went all out to sign him. His star power, combined with the team’s growing ambition, makes them a leading candidate for wildcards. However, there are no guarantees, and without access to the Grand Tours, Pidcock would miss critical opportunities to compete at the highest level, which is what he really needs to do in the next few years to remind everyone how much talent he has.

Let’s get one thing straight: Pidcock’s transfer to Q36.5 is a gamble. While it offers him the chance to lead a team and shape its future, it also comes with risks. The team’s lack of guaranteed entry to WorldTour events could restrict his calendar, forcing him to rely on wildcard slots for Grand Tours and major one-day races. For a rider of his calibre and reputation, consistent exposure at the highest level is essential not only for performance but also for maintaining his global profile.

For Q36.5, the stakes are equally high. Pidcock’s signing represents a significant investment, and the team will need to deliver results to justify the move. Success at ProSeries races and wildcard appearances at WorldTour events will be critical in building momentum and attracting further talent and sponsorship. And what happens if Pidcock doesn’t live up to expectations? That’ll be a financial disaster for the team.

Despite the challenges, the move also presents significant opportunities. After 2024 it could be easily to forget just how good Pidcock can be at his best, and he could be reborn at his new Swiss team. His leadership could inspire the team’s younger riders and elevate Q36.5’s status within the peloton. Moreover, the move signals a shift in cycling’s competitive landscape, where ProTeams are increasingly looking to challenge the established hierarchy and snatch riders from the big guns.

Pidcock’s move from a WorldTour giant to a ‘small’ ProTeam highlights a broader trend in professional cycling. As teams like Q36.5 invest in marquee riders and ambitious projects, the lines between WorldTour and ProTeams are becoming increasingly blurred. For riders, the choice of team is no longer solely about rankings or budgets but about finding the right environment to achieve their goals, which Pidcock had been unable to do with INEOS.

For Q36.5, Pidcock’s arrival marks the beginning of a new era. Whether the gamble pays off will depend on the team’s ability to secure wildcard entries, deliver results, and support their star rider’s ambitions. For Pidcock, the move is a bold statement of intent, a chance to lead, innovate, and redefine his career on his own terms. But make no mistake, he has to make the most of it