Tom Pidcock’s shock winter move from INEOS Grenadiers to
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team was one of the most talked-about transfers in recent
cycling history, and understandably so. Dropping down from the WorldTour to a
ProTeam raised eyebrows across the sport. Why would a double Olympic champion, classics
winner, and Tour de France stage victor leave one of cycling’s richest and most
prestigious outfits?
Now, just a few months into the 2025 season, the answer is
becoming clearer: cultural reset, sporting opportunity, and perhaps above all,
the chance to lead and shape something new. Already, the move appears to be
paying off for both Pidcock and Q36.5, with the team experiencing their most
successful start to a season since their formation under Doug Ryder in 2023.
Q36.5 have already surpassed their entire 2024 win tally
just a few months into this campaign, securing seven victories in 2025. Four of
those have come from Pidcock, instantly validating the decision to bring him on
board.
“In general it brings us a step forward,” team sports
director Jens Zemke told Cycling News. “Tom also brought his coach Kurt
Bogaerts on board, so the complete knowledge and infrastructure. So there's
also the motivational part, he lifts the team.”
That influence has been visible since winter training camps,
Zemke noted, with Pidcock’s presence sparking greater attention to detail
across the board. “Every screw we turn. We see there and there we have
potential. It started from the winter already on and from the training camp and
goal setting and the races.”
Q36.5’s momentum hasn’t gone unnoticed. “For the moment we
are really happy with how the season develops,” Zemke continued. “From week to
week we have somebody up in the game, and I think also the outside world is
realising that this team is on a good way.”
Beyond the wins, Pidcock’s transfer has clearly brought
structural benefits. By joining with his long time coach and taking a
leadership role within the team, he has imported a level of professionalism and
performance culture that aligns with WorldTour standards.
“It’s a big milestone to bring Tom on board, but I think
this [path] will continue,” Zemke explained. “Our curve is going uphill. Also
the people we bring on board. We have very good staff, the infrastructure is
like WorldTour.”
That sentiment is echoed by those within the squad who were
already part of Q36.5’s upward trajectory. Irish rider Rory Townsend, who
joined the team in 2024, believes Pidcock’s arrival has enhanced what was
already a solid foundation.
“Obviously from one side is the attention the team gets,
it's obviously a little bit different now,” Townsend said. “Tom has a lot of
drive and brings a lot in that way, like just trying to improve things in and
around the team.”
But for Townsend, the team’s standards were already
impressively high. “They're a super professional outfit, compared to anything
that I've been involved in, so I think actually it was a really nice fit for
Tom. For some people, I'm sure they were a bit surprised when he came here, but
being on the inside I wasn't surprised.”
The team’s strong performances and rising profile were
recently rewarded with a coveted wildcard invitation to the 2025 Giro d’Italia,
their first Grand Tour appearance since the re-launch. It’s a landmark moment
for the team and a huge opportunity for Pidcock to further stamp his authority
on the sport.
Read also
“I think it is a fantastic opportunity for us as a team,”
said Pidcock. “It’s what we have wanted to be a part of since I joined this
team, and now it’s become a reality. I think it’s going to be a pretty exciting
race with lots of different opportunities. I’m glad we have this opportunity,
and I’m motivated to make the most of it.”
While a general classification bid might seem ambitious in a
debut Grand Tour with limited resources, Pidcock’s versatility and exciting
style could make him a real threat for stage wins. For a team still growing
into Grand Tour racing, even making an impact on select stages would be a
statement.
That said, the team are not without challenges, particularly
in the Spring Classics. Illness and long-term injuries have depleted their
depth, and despite Pidcock’s strengths, he is focused on the Ardennes, leaving
a gap in their northern cobbled campaigns.
“If we bring the perfect line-up here with Tom, with
[Frederik] Frison, with [Nickolas] Zukowsky then we would play a bit different
role than now, driving car 23,” Zemke admitted. “The thing where we really
struggle at the moment is a lot of riders which are not able to race at the
moment due to sickness or long-term injuries.”
Still, riders like Townsend are embracing the greater
demands. “Even from last year to this year with the team, I'm doing a lot more
of the bigger races now,” he said. “Racing all of the races like I do now, it's
quite intense but you just have to see it as an opportunity more than anything
else.”
Interestingly, despite Pidcock’s star power, Townsend was
clear that his presence doesn’t affect how others ride. “I just focus on what I
need to do and my role. If I get the opportunity to work with Tom a little bit
then it's nice. Even just having a guy on the team who I've raced with growing
up is also nice.”
Perhaps the clearest sign of Q36.5’s transformation is the
recognition they are now receiving within the sport. Zemke believes the Giro
wildcard is long overdue. “We are in the third year now, third year that this
team is existing, and I think we also deserve a spot in a Grand Tour,” he said.
“If you look who's getting all these wildcards, then we are the only team in
this ranking that's never received a wildcard.”
And with the Giro invitation secured, expectations are high
that Q36.5 won’t just be making up the numbers. “You saw in Strade, we as a
small team were challenging Pogačar, we made the race interesting,” Zemke
pointed out. “And the same could be in the Giro for example, that we are not
team 23, that we are playing a major role.”
Beyond racing, Pidcock is already proving a game changer in
the transfer market. His presence lends credibility and appeal to riders who
might otherwise have overlooked a ProTeam project.
“For next year we will get some more good riders on board,”
Zemke said. “We are also getting interesting for other riders, so they already
asked our team to join.”
The team’s sponsors reflect this new level too. “You see
also we have premium partners here, in Scott bikes, with Mercedes cars, with
the clothing Q36.5, Breitling watches too, so it's really high-end sponsors.
That's also interesting for riders, if they know they are riding on a perfect
bike.”
Read more on our Wildcard entry to @giroditalia 🇮🇹
— Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team (@Q36_5ProCycling) April 1, 2025
👇https://t.co/tV3t1Mbm27 https://t.co/4BNEhBuhRn pic.twitter.com/SPgUrQEjAQ
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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