Tom Pidcock reveals all on Milano-Sanremo misfortune, INEOS transfer, and Pogacar: “I know perfectly well what challenge I have signed up for”
Cycling
Tom Pidcock’s 2025 campaign with his new team Q36.5 Pro
Cycling Team began in dramatic fashion as he lined up for his first Monument
with the squad at Milano–Sanremo. On a day that saw Mathieu van der Poel claim
a stunning victory ahead of Tadej Pogacar and Filippo Ganna in one of the most
thrilling editions in recent memory, Pidcock was left reflecting on what might
have been.
The British rider’s race was derailed by a crash at the foot
of the Cipressa, which left him out of position just as the key attacks were
made. Speaking to Wielerflits, he explained how the crash completely
altered his chances.
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“I started the first climbing sections of the Cipressa in a
particularly bad position,” he said. “After the crash, I was too far back when
Pogacar, Van der Poel and Filippo Ganna rode away. I didn’t see the front of
the race again.”
The disappointment was clear, but for Pidcock, the race was
also a milestone, not only was it his first Milano–Sanremo with Q36.5, it
marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
“I know perfectly well what challenge I have signed up for,”
he said. “But it is not just about me, it is about the team.”
His move to Q36.5 Pro Cycling surprised many. At 24, Pidcock
is entering what many consider his peak years. Some questioned his decision to
join a smaller, less established team instead of continuing with a WorldTour
giant.
“A lot of people wondered why I went here in my best years,
because it was time to win,” Pidcock acknowledged. “But that’s not all for me.
I think having fun is important, the story I write. Or the joy I get from what
I achieve. I want to leave a legacy, which I give to people who watch me. We
are entertainers – that’s what sport is all about. Earning the respect and
admiration of people by the way you perform or win – that’s important to me.”
Pidcock has already had success in his short career with his
new team, and finished second behind Pogacar earlier this month at Strade
Bianche.
While comparisons to the likes of Van der Poel, Pogacar, and
Evenepoel are common, Pidcock himself doesn’t see much validity in them.
“I don’t think you can compare me to them,” he said. “I’m a
different rider, to be honest. Mountain biking is still my best discipline. On
the road, I don’t have the sprint or pure power like some of them. Uphill, I’m
more of an Ardennes guy. I climb better than Wout and Mathieu, but in the
classics, I’m not as strong as them.”
He reiterated his individuality: “I think I’m quite a
different rider to all of them. On the road, I perhaps don’t have the sprint or
the raw power. On the climbs, I’m more of an Ardennes rider. I can climb better
than Wout and Mathieu, but in the classics, I’m not as strong.”
Despite being known for his success across multiple
disciplines – Olympic gold in mountain biking, world championship titles in
cyclo-cross, and stage wins on the road – Pidcock maintains that his path will
not necessarily mirror those of his rivals. His focus isn’t solely on
victories, but on building a legacy that reflects who he is as a cyclist and as
a person.
Pidcock has made a flying start to life at Q36.5
Looking back on his career so far, Pidcock considers himself
fortunate to have avoided prolonged setbacks. When asked about his lowest
moment, he pointed to a crash before the Tokyo Olympics as one of the tougher
times.
“To be honest, I’ve been quite lucky in that I haven’t had a
super deep point,” he said. “Maybe when I broke my collarbone before the
Olympics in 2021 – that was tough.”
Even then, he approached the challenge with a calm mindset.
“I didn’t let it affect me so much. I ended up on the floor
after being hit by a car, and there’s no point getting angry. It was done, so I
didn’t waste energy getting frustrated. I just concentrated on what I could do
to get better.”
His pragmatic outlook extends to the present, as Q36.5’s
wildcard status has left him unsure of his race programme.
“I know perfectly well what I’ve signed up for. It’s not
just about me, it’s about the team. If we don’t get invited, it’s not just me
who misses out.”
Looking to the future, Pidcock made it clear that results do
matter – but how he achieves them matters even more.
“How do I want people to remember me? Of course I want to
win some of the biggest races. And also win them in an interesting way – that’s
what gives me motivation.”
His passion for the sport is beginning to resurface after
what he described as a challenging period in his final year with INEOS
Grenadiers.
“I would say now I’m more similar to how I was when I
started racing than I have been in the last few years,” he said. “I feel more
like myself. I think I am of course wiser, I know more. But now it’s more of a
job. Before, it was a passion – you just go with the flow.”
“I feel a freshness that perhaps has been missing. That’s
how I could describe it. Last year was difficult, but now it’s a fresh start, a
fresh team. I chose to come here – everything is great at the moment.”
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Now living in Andorra with his girlfriend and two dogs,
Pidcock values the space and detachment from cycling that his new environment
provides. His girlfriend, an interior designer, provides a welcome distraction
from the intensity of professional sport.
“For me, when I finish a hard day training or a hard race, I
don’t want to talk about the race. I just want to talk about what she’s doing.
She’s got her own business now, doing interior design. She designed our house.”
“It's nice to be able to hear about her day and what she’s
done. I don’t have to talk about mine. I like to be distracted – to kind of get
away from it when I can.”
Tom now rides on the same team as his younger brother Joe.
He acknowledged that Joe may feel added pressure or expectation, but also
believes his sibling has the talent to succeed.
“I think he definitely finds it harder to extract his
potential compared to me. That’s something that perhaps I’m not – I’m quite
impatient with, perhaps I need to be more understanding.”
“He’s definitely got potential, and now he’s got the chance
to show it if he can be consistent.”
Pidcock also confirmed that his passion for multi-discipline
racing hasn’t gone anywhere.
“This year, hopefully in July, I’ll do some mountain bike
races. I’d like to race the mountain bike worlds. With Mathieu coming back,
that would be a nice battle.”
And the he confirmed his winter plans for next year, “I also
plan to go back to cyclo-cross next year.”
As for the road?
“The main goal at the moment is the focus on helping this
team grow. If we go to the Vuelta, then that’s where I’ll be.”
Perhaps this lack of Tour de France for the time being is
exactly what Pidcock needs. Things didn’t work out for him in recent editions
of the Tour with INEOS, but a year or two away may be perfect for him to
refresh.
Let’s see what the most talented British all rounder has in
store for us over the course of 2025.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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