"There is interest from us as well" - How Tom Pidcock adds leverage to Pinarello's attempt to sign Paul Seixas
CyclingFriday, 18 September 2026 at 14:15
Paul Seixas's current contract ends in 2027 and the speculation over his future sees no end in sight. Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is one of the teams interested in signing the Frenchman, with Tom Pidcock being a trump card for the team's negotiation agreements.
Rebirthed in 2023, the Q36.5 team (with the former Qhubeka structure) was now a ProTeam structure, but with a major card to play: Ivan Glasenberg. The team owner is also the owner of Pinarello - Pidcock's personal bike sponsor back in his INEOS days. Into 2025, Pidcock's signing with the Swiss team was seen as a major outlier in the market; and a move that has turned the cycling world around.
Not only have his results on the road exponentially improved despite the more modest structure, but the entire mentality in the team as well - now, widely influenced by Pidcock himself. Doug Ryder, team manager, argued that the 2025 Vuelta a España was an example of that:
"Before that Vuelta, Pidcock said: 'Please, I don’t ever want to hear on the morning of a stage that our objective is not to lose time on GC'," Ryder said in an interview with Cyclist.
"And it’s that thought of every day is an opportunity, every rider has a value, and everyone that supports him, he then wants to support in return. It also makes it less arduous to get through a three-week marathon. It’s good to have electricity and fun within the peloton with riders duking it out for their own objectives".
Tom Pidcock at the Tour de France
Pidcock's presence and success proved highly effective in proving that the Swiss team could deliver on its promises to new signings. Both its 2025 and ongoing 2026 winter transfer seasons have been highly impressive, with multiple signings both from the world tour, and the vast network of talented under-23 riders.
"Everybody's treated as an equal. Tom always says that everything he does and implements through this team has to go to the 27th, 28th, 29th rider because we can only be as successful as each other. He absolutely respects that every individual in the organization has a value, and that mentality permeates through everybody. He's got remarkable leadership potential".
Tom Pidcock a trump card for negotiations
Facts alone can support Pinarello's ability to sign big riders currently. Mauro Schmid and INEOS talent Andrew August come in as well-known World Tour winners; whilst the signings of Tom Crabbe and Niels Driesen place the team amongst the most successful at signing some of the youngest super-talents in the peloton.
"Many teams are so under pressure with their leaders and have teams within the team to achieve certain goals. We act slightly differently, which I think is resonating very much with the younger generation. There are riders with massive eyeballs and big dreams, looking to find a home where they feel valued and not just be slaves into the system where they work for someone and don't get their own opportunities".
And Tom Pidcock's ongoing success story with the team simply cannot be understated, and is used as a selling point to all of the team's interests: "They also see Tom and his happiness, they see that he's relaxed, trusted and valued, and is riding super-well".
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Paul Seixas and Pinarello
And amongst the team's interests is Paul Seixas. The Frenchman, currently signed with Decathlon CMA CGM Team until the end of 2027, has his contract as the most high sought out currently in the World Tour. Whilst UAE Team Emirates - XRG, who have recently renewed with both Tadej Pogacar and Isaac del Toro, might be out of the run; plenty other teams are not ready to give up the fight.
Whilst wealthy structures like Visma and INEOS are working on obtaining cycling's newest Tour de France-level mega talent, Pinarello does not want to be out of the fight. "Look, any team is a bit naïve if they if they say they're not interested in the super-kid from France, and every team is throwing their hat in the ring".
"And there is interest from us as well," he confirms. "You’d be crazy not to have it. He’s a very good kid respecting his current contract. We have to see how it goes next year".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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