"I need to re-find that excitement for the Tour" - Away from INEOS and leading Q36.5, Tom Pidcock prepares for Tour de France return

Tom Pidcock has raced the Tour de France on three occasions, the most recent being in 2024 where there was an internal dispute with INEOS Grenadiers, and he ultimately didn't reach his best form and abandoned the race prematurely. It is a race where he does not hold too many good memories from the past, but hopes to reach the same heights he did as when he won at Alpe d'Huez back in 2022.

“The move into this team was ­a massive thing for me. Physically, I’ve got what I’ve got. That doesn’t change, but how you get it out of yourself – the new level of motivation, new level of confidence in the ­people around me, but also the level of confidence that they have in me – is really powerful," Pidcock said in words to The Observer. The Briton, ever since moving away from INEOS, has re-found his best motivation and form.

2025 was perhaps even the best year of his career, talking road specifically, with podium results at Strade Bianche, Flèche Wallonne, Giro dell'Emilia; several victories throughout the year including in stage-races; and even a maiden Grand Tour podium at the Vuelta a España, where he finally proved to be a rider capable of handling three weeks, finishing high even with very modest support from Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

His results were the major driving force behind the team's UCI point push, which has seen the Swiss team secure wildcards for all World Tour races this year. The Tour de France is on the schedule, and is a big goal for the Briton.

“I need to re-find that excitement for the Tour. There’s such high pressure and expectations from external people, but also internally, from teams. In our team, I think it will be different. My main goal is to go there and have fun and enjoy it and I think that will bring success," he describes. "Obviously, we’re going to have to train our balls off".

Of course, Pidcock has a mixed past with the Tour. He has won there back in 2022 when he had a free role; but the 2023 edition was marked by a GC attempt that proved unsuccessful; and in 2024 he wanted to have a free role and GC leadership as well, only for that to be refused. Although the British team lost the ability to fight for the first positions at the Tour, Pidcock was never backed up despite his desire. His preparation, often mixing mountain biking with the road, was also often seen as not ideal for a three-week race.

Hence, despite finishing third at the Vuelta last summer, he did not talk about finishing in a specific position or having a fixed goal, for the time being. “We’re going to be in the best shape we can be. But I think if we can go and enjoy the stress of the Tour, then that will help change my mindset back to how it should be. I’m confident that my team can get me in a good place in terms of my physical shape," he adds. "And mentally, I’d say I’m very strong, to be honest. And the pressure doesn’t really get to me".

The Tour is a whole different beast when comparing to the Vuelta, and although he does not feel the best regarding it at the moment, there are five months for that to happen. Pidcock spent three weeks at altitude in Chile this January, an unusual start to his campaign. He begins his season today at the Vuelta a Murcia.

“The biggest race in the world (the Tour, ed.). It’s the race that inspired me when I was young. It’s inspiring probably millions of other kids, but to race, it’s not the most enjoyable. Hopefully we can change that. Before, I wasn’t at that level to compete for a podium. When you’re competing just to stay in the top 10, I struggle to find the motivation to do that and have to ­battle that for three weeks. It’s just draining.”

Hence, his return to the Tour de France will be an unknown, to be discovered as the race moves along. “I don’t know where the ceiling is, whereas before touching the ceiling for a few years. Now we’re exploring, we’re seeing what we can do differently, how we can improve. We’re exploring new limits and we’re not afraid to fail.”