Tom Pidcock reveals all on Milano-Sanremo misfortune, INEOS transfer, and Pogacar: “I know perfectly well what challenge I have signed up for”

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.

“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.

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.”

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.