"If we get an invitation, Tom will be there" - Q36.5 promise to bring its biggest star to Giro if awarded the wildcard
Cycling
Tom Pidcock made a strong debut in Q36.5 Pro Cycling jersey in early months. His next programme is already outlined until the end of April with plenty of racing in Ardennes towards the end of April. Can he also fit possible Giro d'Italia next to that?
The 25-year-old Olympic mountain bike champion was a bit held back about his participation. "I have to plan a holiday sometime, you know," he laughed in responses to In de Leiderstrui. Then more seriously: "For me, whether or not there is a Giro will not change much about the coming weeks."
Q36.5 Pro Cycling sports director Gabriele Missaglia nodded immediately when asked about Pidcock's start in case the Swiss team is indeed invited. "We're waiting for the decision, it's mainly logistically difficult, with the start already in May. But for the organization it's also a difficult decision in many ways. If we get a wildcard, we'll be able to fill it in the best possible way. And if we get an invitation, Tom will be there," said the Italian.
Pidcock's coach Kurt Bogaerts also confirmed this when asked. "You know that when you join a pro-continental team, you have no certainty about wildcards. No decision is still positive news for us. We hope for the Giro-Vuelta combination and I think that as a team we prove that we belong there. But we have to wait and see, you can't force something like that. We will be prepared if we are invited."
Pidcock, for whom it would be a Giro debut, will use some time without racing to go back to altitude: "We are not really taking that into account in his program yet. We will work through that, as we have set it up. And if the Giro comes along, we will continue with it. There is enough time for a training camp, for example for the Ardennes classics."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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