Tom Pidcock explains why he left INEOS Grenadiers - "That team was like a second family to me"
Cycling
Tom Pidcock's departure from INEOS Grenadiers made him the highest-tier transfer of the winter and having signed with the modest ProTeam Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team there was definitely a huge move on the market. It wasn't something that was supposed to have happened however as the Briton still had three years of contract remaining, however he explains why he and the British team split.
"It just didn’t go how it should have at INEOS, and not how I envisioned it. The solution we came to together was to terminate the contract. It was the best decision," Pidcock said in words to journalist Daniel Benson.
"It wasn’t about one specific moment, it had been going on for a while. It’s no secret that I had a tough year, and I think INEOS did as well. It was a gradual process." He had won Amstel Gold Race, but the preparation and performances for Il Lombardia were underwhelming.
Whilst he became Olympic Champion on the XCO discipline, on the road the team wanted more. The turning point then was his exclusion from Il Lombardia, where he was certain to lead the team after finishing second to Tadej Pogacar at Il Lombardia - a decision that was never fully explained by the team, and was said to have been taken from the team management.
Then a few months of ups-and-downs followed where his future looked uncertain, but increasingly looking like it'd be with INEOS. However Pidcock was not present at the training camp in Spain and the news soon broke out that he'd leave, and join the Swiss team. "I’ve already put it behind me. That team was like a second family to me, and I have amazing memories, but it was time for a change. I accepted that a long time ago, and now I’m fully focused on this project."
INEOS was not able to replace Pidcock with a rider of similar quality, in fact there were no major signings since early December, which means the budget planned for Pidcock's salary is in fact not being used.
For Pidcock that is a closed chapter, and he has already been presented as the face of Q36.5: "From my heart, after the first meeting, I knew this was where I wanted to ride. In my mind, I had been thinking about it for a while. But here, they truly believe in me. There’s a shared vision of success and the freedom to just ride. I decided this was one hundred percent the right choice. The people on this team are the smartest I’ve ever worked with."
He will have full leadership and freedom within what's possible, focusing on MTB (and CX) with his personal Pinarello bike sponsorship, whilst racing in Scott bikes on the road. The Tour de France will not be on his schedule this year but he aims to be back in 2026; however for the time being he already shared more about his calendar for the upcoming months.
"It’s all a bit new because now I need to be invited to races instead of having a set plan. We have a general idea of things, so hopefully, we’ll do the Italian block too. I’d love to race Milan-San Remo, Strade Bianche, and Tirreno-Adriatico, and then maybe the Giro. It’s possible, but nothing is confirmed yet," he concluded.
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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.
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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)...
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- I dunno what you're talking about. you make no sense. MS's competitor and the competitors coach said it was BS. she didn't deviate in a way that relegation should be required. revel LOL. you're so cool, in your own mind.mij09-11-2026
- deviation lol, watch the videomij09-11-2026
- the 'No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines' comment was unfortunately a bit off. didn't you just boast about your principles in the comments section of another article?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- Are you MrMauMau 2.0? Nothing you are saying is really relevant. Vaguely connected, but irrelevant. The conversation is whether Schreiber impeded Brand or not.
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026
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