Fifteen stages into the 2025 Giro d’Italia, and Tom
Pidcock's debut Grand Tour with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team remains a work in
progress. There have been sparks, but he has not yet the race alight, even if
their still are chances to do so.
For both rider and team, this is a journey of firsts. It’s
Pidcock’s first Grand Tour since switching to Q36.5, and the Swiss-based
squad’s first ever appearance in a three-week race. Expectations were high, but
while there have been flashes of potential, the results haven’t been
eye-catching just yet.
Pidcock arrived in Italy full of ambition. At 25 years old,
he brought not just star power but real intent. Several stages looked
tailor-made for the versatile Brit on paper, technical, punchy, and suited to
his explosive style. But many of those opportunities were swallowed up by the
dominance of Mads Pedersen in the sprints, while the mountain stages have yet
to break in Pidcock’s favour.
He showed promise on Stage 9’s gravel showdown, a terrain
that suits his off-roading pedigree, but a crash scuppered his chances. Still,
he sits 15th overall, just over a minute off the top ten.
IDLProCycling.com spoke to his coach, Kurt Bogaerts, who
explained the context behind Pidcock’s approach.
"Tom didn't have the preparation to ride for the GC
because he trained for the classics. It's no secret that you need specific
preparation if you want to go for the GC. That's why we go for it every day: to
signal his body for 21 days and get the most out of it. He's doing well so far,
even though there have been some difficult days."
Was stage 9 Pidcock's best chance?
The aim, Bogaerts said, is steady adaptation, not a
headline-grabbing result at all costs, but a long-term developmental effort.
"But there are also good days ahead because his results
weren't bad at all. You must be realistic after everything he's done since the
beginning of February. That's what we tell him every day," he added.
"In stage 11, for example, he didn't feel great on that first climb. That
wasn't surprising because he hadn't trained for it. But he'll get better and
better on climbs like that. Cycling uphill steadily is something you take with
you into the final week."
At this point in the Giro, a tactical question arises:
should Pidcock deliberately lose time in the GC to open up breakaway
opportunities? Bogaerts is clear.
"I'm not a fan of that. Tom has to fight every day, and
then at a certain point, he'll be close enough to have a chance to go with the
breakaway."
That philosophy keeps Pidcock within touching distance of
the top ten. If he continues to ride consistently, the top ten itself becomes a
realistic goal.
"Then you're riding for the GC, that's for sure. I'd be
happy with that, and we're also happy with where he is now," said
Bogaerts. "But then he has to survive the big mountain stages."
And that is the next big unknown. Pidcock’s only Grand Tour
stage win came at the 2022 Tour de France on Alpe d’Huez, an iconic solo that
proved what he’s capable of on his day. The question is whether the bigger
climbs in the Giro’s final week will expose his lack of specific preparation, or
reveal a hidden reserve of strength.
For Bogaerts and Q36.5, this Giro is about more than stage
wins or GC positions. It’s part of a broader development plan for their marquee
rider.
"We also see this Giro as something for the long term
and, therefore, have to continue on this path. Learning, recovering, focusing,
nutrition... That's the next step in his career."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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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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