"Imagine if he won Amstel Gold this year for Q36.5, how big that would be for the organization" - Tom Pidcock could be a game-changer according to Damien Howson

One of the biggest stories of the winter was the Tom Pidcock transfer saga and his eventual departure from the INEOS Grenadiers to the Swiss Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. One of those most excited by the British star's arrival at Q36.5, is the experienced Aussie pro Damien Howson.

Howson is entering his third successive campaign with the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team in 2025, and despite seeing plenty of positive developments over the past two years, the 32-year-old believes the arrival of Pidcock could be what really pushes the team to the next level.

"When the team formed they were ambitious to keep moving up the ranks and be in that top echelon of the sport," Howson says in conversation with Cycling News from the season-opening Tour Down Under in the Aussie's homeland. "We've had a few changes over the years, but obviously the addition of Tom is a significant change for the team and the dynamics, and I'm excited to see what he can do."

A double Olympic gold medallist, former Tour de France stage winner and as recently as 2024, a winner of notable races such as the Amstel Gold Race, Pidcock comes to Q36.5 with a proven track record of success. "He's not actually won a whole lot of races on the road, but what he does win is truly up there with the greats. You can only imagine if he won Amstel Gold this year for Team Q36.5, how big that would be for the organization. We can then use that as a stepping stone to continue to move forward," says Howson excitedly. "I'm excited to see how it all goes. Obviously, there'll be times that I can continue to be the leader of certain races but then there's other times that Tom will be the the man and I'm more than happy to make those ambitions of his come true."