“Tom has always been a special rider” – Q36.5 sign multi-discipline star to support Pidcock

Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team have confirmed the signing of Belgian rider Quinten Hermans, adding another big name to a squad that has been busy strengthening its roster. The team, which is led by Tom Pidcock, has already announced the arrivals of Fred Wright, Xandro Meurisse, Brent Van Moer, Eddie Dunbar and Chris Harper. For Hermans, who leaves Alpecin-Deceuninck after three years, the move marks a fresh chapter in a career that has seen him shine across multiple disciplines.

The 30-year-old is well-known as a medallist at the European Championships in cyclocross and the World Championships in gravel, while also securing victories on the cyclocross circuit itself. Speaking in the team’s press release, he described the switch as a step into the unknown, “Getting from cyclocross to road racing almost full-time was about stepping out of the comfort zone. That is also the case with joining Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. It’s the first time I am not part of a Belgian team anymore, but after all these years I wanted to have a more international look. It’s going to be new and inspirational to work with many different nationalities to all become stronger together.”

Hermans will reunite with Tom Pidcock, with whom he has shared many battles in cyclocross between 2020 and 2023. Their familiarity, he believes, will help the team reach higher levels. “Tom has always been a special rider knowing exactly what he wants. He has proven quite a lot on the road already. We always had a good connection, are the same kind of rider so I look forward to being on the same team. We both race efficiently in how we move through the peloton, and I feel that we will help each other get better to achieve the team’s goals.”

Beyond his connection to Pidcock, Hermans is setting ambitious personal targets. “There is still quite some margin to grow, I think. There is more in me than I have shown so far so I hope that a new team will help me take those steps and realize some of my goals. Doug Ryder, Kurt Bogaerts and I discussed this. We would like to focus on shorter stage races but also on winning a stage in a Grand Tour. But even in the biggest races where Tom is the team leader it’s always good to have multiple cards to play. In races with Tadej Pogačar you just need strength in numbers as a team.”

He also acknowledged the role Q36.5’s reputation for innovation played in his decision. “I don’t even like cold weather,” he admitted with a smile. “In cyclocross there simply is no time to feel cold because you race at your limit for an hour. In a road peloton that is different. I know that many in the peloton look at Q36.5 as an innovative brand.

“You can do all the best preparation with altitude camps, the best coaches or food but if you have three days of rain and you get cold and wet every advantage you got from that preparation is gone. The thing you need most then is to stay warm and dry. The brand seems very innovative in that temperature control, and I look forward to helping the development of cycling clothing from a rider perspective. The differences in quality are small at this level, so every percent matters.”

Team manager Doug Ryder hailed the signing as one that fits perfectly with the squad’s long-term project. “We are delighted to welcome Quinten Hermans to Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. Quinten’s journey from cyclo-cross into the world of road racing over the past five years has shaped him into a rider with incredible resilience, skill, and attention to detail. Those are qualities that stem from his background as a bike mechanic and his natural feel for the peloton. He has a deep passion for the Ardennes Classics and carries the ambition to win a Grand Tour stage, which perfectly aligns with our team’s vision of racing with purpose and chasing big dreams. We believe Quinten’s versatility and fighting spirit will be a huge asset as we continue to grow and inspire through performance.”