Pinarello Q36.5 reportedly set to swoop in for two young prospects - Tom Pidcock's team add to Schmid and Bittner signings
Cycling
Pinarello Q36.5 are set to continue their active transfer market as latest reports point to them signing two young prospects as they're set to hand first professional contracts to the pair of Niels Driesen and Liam O'Brien.
Following the confirmation of marquee signings such as Mauro Schmid and Pavel Bittner for the 2027 season as well as outgoing names such as Sam Bennett, Damien Howson and David de la Cruz, their busy market activity is set to continue.
According to Wielerflits, Lotto Groupe - Wanty rider Driesen has opted to join the ProTeam after the 20-year-old impressed over the past 18 months. The 20-year-old had reportedly received an offer to step up to their Lotto-Intermarche structure.
He has represented the Lotto-Intermarche team on several occasions this season, including Tour of Oman and Vuelta a Burgos. He also took overall victory in the U23 Ronde de l'Isard in May.
Liam O'Brien
Climbing prospect Liam O'Brien set to sign
Lidl-Trek development rider O'Brien is also reported to be on the way to Pinarello. With a second and fourth place overall finish in the Ronde de l'Isard in 2025 and 2026 respectively, the Irish rider has a bright future.
The 21-year-old is in his third season with Lidl-Trek Future Racing and has represented the World Tour outfit at this year's AlUla Tour as well as Tour of the Alps and Gran Piemonte among other races. As well as showcasing strong climbing potential, O'Brien is also a talented time triallist.
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The team recently confirmed another significant move in the transfer market, signing Czech sprinter Pavel Bittner from Team Picnic PostNL on a two-year deal from the start of 2027.
Bittner brings Grand Tour success. He claimed his breakthrough victory on stage 5 of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, beating Wout van Aert in a photo finish, and has since completed two editions of the Tour de France.
Although he has not won again since that Vuelta success, his 2026 results have kept him among the most promising young fast men in the peloton. Bittner finished second at Scheldeprijs, third at the Bredene Koksijde Classic and also reached the podium on the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Perhaps he has what Mark Cavendish had, the Epstein-Barr Virus. It caused him severe and unexplained chronic fatigue. I hope he gets better.
parisbound0001-11-2026 - How can medical staff act like that? pretty disgraceful! the guys down and they're near seeing him off ;/
leedorney01-11-2026 - I think that this is exactly what Jonas needs at this point in his career. It's something that could revive his passion for winning, and he's physically more than capable of winning one of those races as well.
santiagobenites01-11-2026 - What a great race! Couldn't look away. Can't wait for the euros
Rafionain-Glas01-11-2026 - I think other competitors also had great Tours, so it wasn't that Ferrand-Prévot necessarily failed in some way - it's more likely that the other top riders lifted their game and maybe also a bit of luck with no crashes, etc. It's the Tour de France after all. It's not meant to be easy to defend your title (the few exceptions like Pogacar prove the rule).Pogboom01-11-2026
- maybe we should put our cv at the end of each comment post ... same rights for all of us!Ketterechts01-11-2026
- hahah literally all it is. Glad im not the only one noticing, essentially this is just a blog as it is now. Run buy boys from their bedroom hehe Their very subjective aswell, people on twitter even said their pure visma fanboys, if you listen to Ruben silva guy pre TDF this year all he said turned out to be wrong and constantly fail to realize visma isnt where they was before roster wice or means to contest even RBH or Lidl anymore, ,very biased ppl and when you run ''news articles that way its problematic..miguel01-11-2026
- The new joke of the year in 2027: "If both guys (Pogi and Seixas) finish upright on their bikes and both don't get sick for some reason, I think Paul will fight Tadej to the end and will possibly beat him in 2027 at the Tour, yes, I just said that." ... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ...PogiSloFans01-11-2026
- Cutting his suit up and getting him to sign it while quite seriously injured is absolutely ghoulishwrsty01-11-2026
- 24 years old?Ketterechts01-11-2026
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