"Tom Pidcock is a generational talent" - Ineos DS confirms the team has long-term plans to fight for GC at Grand tours with Pidcock
CyclingSaturday, 06 July 2024 at 08:30
Tom Pidcock's personal ambitions and the vision of INEOS Grenadiers. The cooperation can go either way in coming years as it's becoming clear the two sides won't unanimously agree in everything. In years to come, it'll become essential, more than ever, to find the right balance between their interests. Steve Cummings whose relationship with Pidcock is said to be very good, could play an important role of a mediator, but his status in INEOS was also debated after his removal from Tour staff.
Performance Director Scott Drawer chatted about both members of the Ineos family with Cyclingnews. He insisted that both Pidcock and Head of Racing Cummings will play a key role in the next era of Ineos Grenadiers (refers to a founding of a new U23 team in near future), despite the Netflix Tour de France documentary highlighting tension between the two and Cummings being left at home from this year's race.
Clearly, Pidcock is seen as a key part of the team’s Grand Tour group, alongside Carlos Rodríguez and Egan Bernal. The 24-year-old already showed glimpses of his true potential in the mountains (for example by winning the Alpe d'Huez stage in 2022). But there's still a lot of work to do to become a challenger for the likes of Tadej Pogacar.
"Tom Pidcock is contracted with us until the end of 2027 so none of that's going to change. He's a generational talent," Drawer said. "A long-term aspiration for Tom will be fighting for the GC and I think he wants that as well. We look forward to supporting him on that mission. He's definitely got a key role in the team in the long-term future."
Drawer confirmed that Steve Cummings has a senior management role in the team despite being left at home from this year’s Tour de France. "Absolutely," Drawer made clear. "Steve's role is Director of Racing and so is much more significant than just being on a race. Zak Dempster is 'lead DS' for this Tour but Steve and I are working on a number of strategic projects already for rider recruitment for 2026."
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- Not sure this type of show will always be looked on positivelyMistermaumau06-06-2025
- Strategy? What strategy? They had less than Viable had at the Vuelta Kuss won. When you read management trying to offload blame with turns like « we tried to encourage him » (IDT) to watch Yates, you have to ask, is anyone directing anything? How about TELLING him?Mistermaumau06-06-2025
- They don’t half come up with some crap to turn events into stories. Problem is, if all this was true and so influential, that means 1. Riders are lacking inherent motivation and possibilities for motivation, 2. it’s due to race radio chatter he won and 3. They were lucky no attention was given and race radio didn’t mention him. In fact you are basically admitting outside influence skewed the race and if it works, this technique might get exploited commercially in future by corrupt or biased staff, rivals and officials. So c’mon guys, let’s stay a little factual coz otherwise you’re only going to shoot yourselves in the feet.Mistermaumau06-06-2025
- Maybe Ayuso will ride Tour de France coming July to help Pogi better than Adam Yates. We don't know what Gianetti and Matxin going on their minds.
James2631806-06-2025 - Glad it worked for Yates, I don't believe for 1 second that UAE would conduct themselves like so with Pog. #noway
leedorney06-06-2025 - He'd won the Giro after all. That should put him as the strongest rider by itself. His rivals couldn't match him on the Finestre. Superior team tactics, but also superior legs by no means. He didn't even miss a doping test. Believe it or notBM06-06-2025
- Solid worker this guy 💪leedorney06-06-2025
- One of the amazing things about cycling is how many races are happening at the same time. Stage, GC, and (as is clear here) job. It’s what makes the sport so interesting. On screen maybe not much is happening, but and yet so much is happening.RidesHills06-06-2025
- In contract year, i would say that if team duties permit, you are allowed to market yourself.abstractengineer06-06-2025
- Now its not a good team for talent development and opportunities. With Tadej hogging the GTs and the Monuments and the rest left fighting for scraps, there is very little chance for leadership roles which are critical in development of future greatsabstractengineer06-06-2025
Pidcock is weak in the TTs and the big mountain stages so maybe someone can explain how you win a GT with those negative traits?
Tom's a great racer. I like Tom. He makes the sport more interesting.
That said, Tom isn't going to win a GT.
Sorry I quote Cummings has a good relationship with Pidcock Lol . Check out netflix. Also why is he not at TDF. Typical Ineos PR BULL. Pidcock said he would not be missed 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 get Rod back he has great people skills and get the best from riders . Cav as prime example
I would not read too much into the Netflix series as its just to get viewers and not necessarily to tell the truth. I would rather believe what Scott Drawer than any sensationalist TV show.
I think you hit the nail right on the head with that post 1000. I get the feeling watching netflix that Cummings was brought in to be the "common touch" one of the lads who could speak to them on their level. This thing with Pidcock is all I know of at the moment. Have any other ineos riders said anything about him?