"People who are around Tom I don't think help" - Geraint Thomas weighs in on Pidcock/INEOS drama
CyclingTuesday, 15 October 2024 at 13:23
Tom Pidcock was controversially deselected from the INEOS Grenadiers line-up for Il Lombardia last weekend, despite coming second to Tadej Pogacar in the Giro dell'Emilia. With seemingly all signs now hinting towards a Pidcock exit, INEOS stalwart Geraint Thomas has weighed in on the situation.
The Welshman is clear that what has happened makes no sense, even less so with the highest paid rider in the squad: "We should address the elephant in the room. It's just messed up," begins Thomas via an Instagram takeover on Eurosport Cycling alongside Laurens De Plus. "I don't actually know what has gone on, but all I know is, when you're the highest-paid rider in your team… it's obviously a really c*** situation."
As Thomas admits, things can't go on as they are, so something has to change. "He's not happy, the team's not happy. How has it got to this point?" Thomas questions aloud. "I don't know. People who are around Tom I don't think help. The fact is that he had a great chance of performing today (Il Lombardia last Saturday)."
Arguably the most controversialaspect of the whole situation, is that Pidcockwas removed from the final monument by the team's upper management, meaning his recent performance levels had nothing to do with it. "I saw that Zak Dempster had said it's a management call, it's not a performance call. I certainly don't know anything about that. We're just riders, what do we know about management?" Thomas says. "It's just not good. All the b******* aside, he's a great talent. He's a good guy, when I'm around him we have a nice time, so it's not good to see that situation. We'll see what happens."
With rumours of interest from a number of teams, if Pidcock is to leave INEOS he'll seemingly have no shortage of new suitors. Definitely a situation that we'll continue to keep our eye on.
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- that was actually a GREAT result for van der poel, it seems to me.OCexile08-06-2025
- CAPTION (that 1st 1 pic) Pog. to JV I'm in the right gear, I know so am I 😉
leedorney08-06-2025 - lol so true. hunt stages. pidcock is the most perplexing rider in the pelotonmij08-06-2025
- Nice to see Jonas coming out of his shell, both during and after the race. Wonder what he said that made Tadej react 'Oh really?!'.Renz08-06-2025
- ah
KerisVroom08-06-2025 - Jonas wanted to congratulate Tadej, that's all. He was distracted.
maria2024202408-06-2025 - A podium would have kept the streak going, but winning makes it even stronger. Since Jebel Hafeet at the UAE Tour, across Strade Bianchi and 4 monuments, he has been no worse than third. 9 consecutive podiums, 6 wins on the road, one GC. Good lord.RidesHills08-06-2025
- Fantastic and unexpected! a Jonas in Tadej style! My fear was that Jonas might be too worried (a bit paralyzed) by the risks of cycling after his crashes.. I'm very happy to see that it's not the case.maria2024202408-06-2025
- Weird that Jonas pulled his hand away from MvDP when MvDP wanted to congratulate him on the 2nd place.KerisVroom08-06-2025
- His team's management, coaches, and agent likely have better insight
Front24208-06-2025
As I predicted, he’s touching this with silk white gloves.
Tom might or might not be a GC rider. he's had a 13th and 16 finish in the Tour. He's 25 and has a lot of room for growth. I liken his situation to Mathias Jorgensen who rode for Movistar and the team was just not a fit for him, he changes teams and then win Paris Nice and is a contender in other races.
I hope Tom figures it out soon and makes the right move for his future.
I belive Thomas when he says he has no idea what went on. Why would he when no one else seems to know what is going on at INEOS. Whatever it is it is not just down to Pidcock. managers are there to manage but this also includes people management and they appear to have let Pidock down in this aspect.
Of course Thomas knows what went on but as a Team member he cannot say. Reading between the lines I really think Pidcock was picked to ride at Lombardia for the "TEAM" and turned around and said I will ride the way I want to ride or I don`t ride, the rest is history. I have said it before, cycling is much, much bigger than Pidcock and will be around long after he has gone. Full marks to Ineos even if it upset a lot of people but this came from the very top and you do not f**k with Jim.
100% speculation