Johan Bruyneel on Tom Pidcock: "He can't earn his big salary just racing cyclocross or MTB"
Cycling
Tom Pidcock is staying at INEOS Grenadiers and aiming for a 2025 season where the goals have not yet been discussed, but a larger focus on the road is very much on the table. Johan Bruyneel believes this is the way to go, as he's got to be of greater value to the team during the road season.
Spencer Martin said at 'The Move' podcast that he was present at the INEOS Grenadiers promotional event where Pidcock spoke a few days ago. At the event, the British rider commented that he saw his mountain bike races on repeat, but not his road races. Martin didn't understand this situation: "It's as if he doesn't enjoy them at all and lamented that in modern cycling there is no time for anything".
Johan Bruyneel is very clear that much of the blame for what happened lies with the British rider, whom he does not consider a team rider, and that is why he adapts better to racing in other categories and does not perform as expected on the road:
"I think he has a problem with his personality. He's a great cyclist, a winner, but he doesn't enjoy events where he's not racing to win. It doesn't make sense to him, but he should realize that professional cycling is a team sport and you're part of a team. No matter how good you are, no matter what kind of winner you are, you are part of a team and you need the team. That's why you probably feel more comfortable in Mountain Bike and Cyclocross, because they are individual sports. You need a small team around you to help you, but during the race you're on your own."
And that's where Pidcock's problem lies according to the former rider and DS: "That's where Pidcock's problem lies, he can't earn his big salary just racing cyclocross or MTB, he has that good salary, but with obligations. Obligations to race, to represent the team, to be part of the team, and that's a problem for Pidcock. I'm not going to say right now that he's creating this situation, but to me it looks more and more and more like he is. He's a champion, he wants to win, but if you're part of a team you have to take that into consideration."
Regarding his future, he believes he will stay for economic reasons: "I think he will stay at INEOS. On the one hand he wants to leave and on the other hand I imagine he doesn't, because he has a great contract that no other team could pay him even close, that's the reason why he is staying".
He thinks that he has that salary because of what is expected of him, not because of what he has done: "His talent is not discussed, he is one of the five most talented cyclists in the world and he is paid for his quality and his potential. Not because of what he has done, but because of what he is expected to do in the future".
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