Tom Pidcock makes 2026 debut at Vuelta a Murcia in search of victory - Pinarello Q36.5 reveal '7' with plenty new riders

Tom Pidcock is starting off his 2026 season in Spain, at the Vuelta a Murcia, far away from many of the main faces in the peloton. Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team look for, in the more modest field, UCI points and victories to kick off its leader's season in the perfect way over the two-day stage-race.

The race includes a stage for the sprinters, and then the regular hilly course that is usually ridden on a yearly basis. Here, Fabio Christen took the victory for the team last year, so it became even more important to return with high ambitions. In a press release, the team has written:

"All eyes will be on team captain Tom Pidcock, who makes his highly anticipated road season debut. After a focused and demanding winter block, Murcia marks Pidcock’s first opportunity to pin on a number in 2026. His return to competition provides a major boost to the squad’s ambitions and signals the beginning of a new chapter in what promises to be an intense and attacking campaign".

Pidcock will be the main favourite to win the overall classification, however the race is not overly selective and so even with great form it will not be easy to make the difference. The likes of Tim Wellens, Pello Bilbao and Christian Scaroni are expected at the start as his main rivals.

The Swiss team will be at the start with a trio of new riders, all of them potential performers in this race, as Quinten Hermans provides a strong sprint option in case the queen stage is taken more conservatively; Brent van Moer and Xandro Meurisse. Emils Liepins will be the team's card for the opening stage, whilst the lineup is completed by Sjoerd Bax and Mark Donovan. The race begins this Saturday and finishes on Sunday. Pidcock will then race the Clásica Jaén Paraiso Interior and the Vuelta a Andalucia.