ANALYSIS: Why Tom Pidcock can move to next level in 2027 - Pinarello game-changer and his consistency make him a serious threat next season
Cycling
Tom Pidcock raised a few eyebrows when he joined Pinarello Q36.5 at the end of 2024. However, he joined the ProTeam and ushered in a new era of his career that's seen him reach previously unseen heights. As he enters his prime years, all indications point to the British rider ramping things up in 2027.
Pidcock's years at INEOS included several flash-in-the-pan glimpses of greatness. From his 2022 Alpe d'Huez victory, to a solo Strade Bianche win and Amstel Gold success, Pidcock took several staggered steps forward.
As he finishes two strong seasons at new team Pinarello Q36.5, he has delivered two campaigns of consistent progress. Turning 28 next summer, the multi-discipline superstar could have the perfect storm to reach his peak.
With some big goals coming into view over the next two seasons, the Yorkshire native has major opportunities to take some career-defining results as everything falls into place at the right time.
Tom Pidcock could be set for a huge 2027
Pidcock hits new level with Pinarello
Looking at the big picture, Tom Pidcock's results and points haul alone will tell you that his move from INEOS has been a success. Despite leaving a british team as one of their prized riders, he has found his feet with the change in environment.
Over the past two seasons, he has scored over 4500 points on both occasions. In his previous seasons with INEOS, his highest points total in a single season was just over 2300 in 2024.
Points alone don't signal a rider is successful. His victories also indicate that he's thrown his hands in the air more often since joining Pinarello. He has won nine individual race stages or one-day races and one overall victory in two seasons. At INEOS, although some of those victories include Strade Bianche and the Tour de France, he won five times.
He was second at Strade Bianche after holding Tadej Pogacar's wheel through his blazing Cipressa and Poggio attacks, missed out in Strade Bianche due to a chain drop in 2026, and even led Pogacar in the 2025 edition.
Consistency has been key for Pidcock at Pinarello. While higher-profile victories came at INEOS, they were fewer and less consistent than those achieved at Pinarello. The Grand Tour dilemma also seems to have become clearer over the past twelve months.
Previously faltering in Grand Tours that have seen him struggle to find the balance between overall ambitions and stages focus, his 2025 Vuelta a Espana and Tour de France performances have been noteworthy.
Pidcock went all-in for a successful podium bid at the Vuelta last Autumn while this summer he found a way to balance a top ten overall with several breakaway attempts during the Tour.
Overall, Pidcock has seemingly hit his stride over the past two seasons, cracking a Grand Tour conundrum and bringing a consistency to his game that he previously struggled to maintain.
Tom Pidcock enjoyed a strong end to the 2026 season
Already moving up a gear at end of 2026?
His final block of racing offers an insight into his current form. Five weeks of racing saw him take in the Italian classics, Canadian classics and World Championships, with Pidcock being one of the key protagonists in the majority of those races.
His racing style and abilities mean fans have seen him attacking on the short punchy climbs of the World Championships, Giro dell Emilia and Canadian Classics but also having the endurance to try and hold the wheel of Paul Seixas on his wind-up Il Lombardia move.
Pidcock has taken lessons of Pogacar's Poggio squeeze, Jonas Vingegaard's relentless Vuelta pressure and certainly the all-guns-blazing Worlds duel with Seixas and Isaac del Toro.
But what makes Pidcock's final block of 2026 interesting is his ability to put himself in a winning position. At both Giro dell'Emilia and Tre Valli Varesine, he was bested by an opportunist move after getting himself in front of the bunch. At Il Lombardia, he was the only one brave enough to try and match Seixas's golden ticket to victory - the only way anyone stood a chance of taking victory.
In Montreal, he appeared to be the strongest in pursuit of Brandon McNulty, and was only one co-ordinating teammate or ally away from a potentially successful chase. Looking back over the five week block shows his strength: one win and six top tens from just eight races - finishing 18th in the other.
Pidcock packs a proven sprint punch if he comes to the line with rivals, has a demonstrated ability to put rivals under pressure in short sharp climbs, and a unique ability to resist initial Tadej Pogacar surges in major races.
However, one thing that has held him back is his lack of co-ordination or at times teammate support at critical moments. Judging by the transfer market, all that's set to change.
Huge transfer market game-changer
Pinarello Q36.5 has already put together one of the most impressive transfer windows seen in cycling in recent seasons, bolstering their line-up with everything from a top star, to versatile proven winners and up-and-coming riders.
Pidcock is bound to have more support and even a second card to play to help his own chances in classics, Grand Tours and stage races in 2027. Giulio Ciccone, to start, sees a proven classics and Grand Tour specialist join the ranks that could see him paired with Pidcock at some races as a two-pronged attack.
The team has added serious depth in the mountains and hills as Tour de France stage winner Mauro Schmid joins, rising star Andrew August could realise his massive potential in the coming seasons while incoming climbers like Seb Berwick and Jan Castellon bolster their stage racing unit.
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Ethan Hayter and Davide Ballerini are powerful and experienced riders joining the ranks while Tom Crabbe has been a sensation at Flander-Baloise this season. Sprinter Pavel Bittner gives them a prized fast man while Niels Driesen and Liam O'Brien are future prospects.
The signings add depth and additional options for the team in 2027, perhaps relieving pressure on Pidcock as well as giving him added resources for major goals next season.
With Milano San Remo possibly without Tadej Pogacar, another crack at Strade Bianche and a formidable Ardennes Classics line-up, Tom Pidcock has all the ingredients to move up a gear next season.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Jonas is declining now. A podium next year would be a good result for him.Renz16-10-2026
- unpredictability is not an issue. Most riders not named Pogi have that. The excuses are and the blaming teammates and other riders for insufficient support and blocking are. if weight is an issue get a nutritionist. If aircon is not working switch rooms. Position yourself or get your teammates and DS to keep reminding you of basic stuff if it is difficult to remember in a long race. Dont whine about other riders not working with you, use tactics yourself or get your DS to develop the tactics. Dont talk about noballs when you yourself have no ballsabstractengineer16-10-2026
- It’s worth remembering that cycling journalism has entered it’s “Shit-Stirring Hot Takes Winter” now in order to keep the clicks and views trickling in.wrsty16-10-2026
- Well that would be a major disappointment. The last two years are the first times I have bothered watching the last day. Maybe at worst it could be the 2nd last day but two classic finishes and then wompWaranga16-10-2026
- Vingegaard was the one showing signs of weakness. He was looking more likely to lose a podium spot or two than to make inroads on Tadej.Papijan16-10-2026
- Disagree with Ardennes, he has never done well there, not even a top 10. Giro Vuelta, avoid the stacked TDF where crashes can derail the rest of the season and even if he avoid that, at best a top 5 is possible. He is 31, no more time left for testing/trying.abstractengineer16-10-2026
- Respectfully disagree. He and the team will want to qualify the result at the Tour against TP, JV, and the other GT specialists who weren't in Spain. And remember, the team is looking for a new title sponsor. Or, at least a co-sponsor. So a run at the TDF would go a long way in securing that! As a fan of the team dating back to the Indurain days, I would love to see it. But I do not think that he can really take it to them in July. But I do think he will try. I do agree that he can do good rides, if not win, in Belgium.coachjulianx16-10-2026
- Kid, you just had to keep your mouth shut, now you opened it and it's too late, everyone knows you're dumb.elosanjos16-10-2026
- “He looked less than brilliant” then Pogacar attacked and distanced all his rivals, again! I swear these support riders are purely doing pr for their leaders at this point.Pedalmasher16-10-2026
- PogiFanBoy just doesn't like you attacking his Tadej boy ! He's quite protective of him as you may have noticed. No one can say a bad thing about him or fear reprisal.frieders316-10-2026
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