Tom Pidcock says goodbye to the INEOS Grenadiers – but what were his best moments for the team?

Yesterday, after months of speculation, the news finally broke that Tom Pidcock will leave the INEOS Grenadiers heading in to the 2025 season. This announcement follows weeks of tension and rumours, including speculation about a potential move to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, but following the departure of Steve Cummings many thought Pidcock would stick with INEOS for at least one more season. Now, at just 25 years old and in what should be the prime of his career, the Leeds-born rider is set to part ways with a team he joined in 2021.

The decision comes after what has been described as an "untenable" situation between Pidcock and the team. Controversy following Il Lombardia and disagreements about Pidcock’s focus on multi-disciplinary racing have reportedly strained the relationship, and everyone got a glimpse into the tension between Pidcock and Cummings in Netflix’s Tour de France documentary. Despite these challenges, INEOS Grenadiers CEO John Allert praised Pidcock in the team’s official statement: "Together we’ve written a powerful chapter and shown how exciting and diverse professional cycling can be. We thank Tom for the last four years and wish him the best of luck for the future."

Now that the saga is over, it’s time to reflect on some of the finest moments Pidcock delivered for the INEOS Grenadiers, a relationship that was undoubtedly expected to last for much longer. While his time at INEOS wasn’t without challenges, it produced some of the most thrilling performances of the last four years, so what were Pidcock’s best wins for INEOS?

Pidcock’s career with INEOS began in 2021, following a successful stint at Team Wiggins. Expectations were high for the young rider from Leeds, and he wasted no time in showing his potential. His first months with INEOS saw a string of impressive performances, including a fifth-place finish at Strade Bianche and 15th at Milano-Sanremo. The biggest moment of his early career was a dramatic photo finish at the Amstel Gold Race, where he narrowly missed out on victory to Wout van Aert in a race that left cycling fans buzzing about Pidcock’s potential.

Pidcock claimed his first victory for INEOS at the Brabantse Pijl, in the early part of the 2021 season. In another tight finale, he outsprinted Wout van Aert, silencing any doubts about his ability to win at the highest level. Speaking after the race, Pidcock called it "the biggest win of my career so far," a title he would soon surpass.

Pidcock’s debut at the Tour de France in 2022 is undoubtedly the most memorable period of his career so far. Named to the INEOS Grenadiers squad in a supporting role for Geraint Thomas, few expected Pidcock to steal the headlines in the manner in which he did. However, on Stage 12, Pidcock delivered what remains the crowning moment of his road career.

The stage was a daunting journey through the Alps, including the legendary ascent of Alpe d’Huez. Midway through the stage, Pidcock launched a now legendary attack on the Col du Galibier, bridging to the breakaway and then distancing his rivals on the final climb. He became the youngest rider in history to win on Alpe d’Huez, beating non-other than four time Tour de France winner and former INEOS rider Chris Froome. The win proved that Pidcock could mix it with the big guns, and produce a win on cycling’s most important stage.

The victory was widely celebrated and later highlighted in Netflix’s Tour de France: Unchained, where Pidcock’s performance was described as "a masterclass in attacking cycling." But perhaps this win has worked against Pidcock in the long run, as after that performance so much pressure and expectation was heaped onto him. At each Tour de France since, he’s been judged based on that day on top of Alpe d’Huez, and he has ultimately come up short. Pidcock’s stage 12 win in 2022 remains his only grand tour stage win to date, and that remains one of the key reasons for his fallout with INEOS.

In 2023, Pidcock achieved what he later called "the biggest victory of my professional career" by winning Strade Bianche. The iconic one-day race, known for its gravel roads and picturesque Tuscan scenery, is often described as one of the most beautiful in cycling, and an unofficial monument.

With just under 50km remaining, Pidcock launched a solo attack that wasn’t part of his original plan. "I saw the opportunity, and I went for it," he said after the race. His bold move caught his rivals off guard, and despite relentless chasing from the likes of Valentin Madouas and Tiesj Benoot, Pidcock held on to claim victory in Siena. Pidcock was fourth at the same race earlier this year, albeit a long way behind a race won by a ridiculous attack 80km by Tadej Pogacar.

After the heartbreak of 2021, Pidcock finally got his hands on the Amstel Gold Race title in 2024. The race came down to yet another dramatic sprint finish, with Pidcock narrowly edging out Marc Hirschi at the line. The victory was a massive moment for the man from Leeds, as he got redemption for the race he was so cruelly denied victory in back in 2021.

Obviously the 2024 season that followed this moment in the spring was very disappointing. Pidcock very nearly added to his single Tour de France win on the gravel stage, but he ultimately came up short.

Pidcock leaves INEOS Grenadiers with a mixed legacy. On the one hand, he delivered some of the most spectacular victories in the team’s recent history, from Alpe d’Huez to Strade Bianche. On the other hand, his total of five professional road wins has led some to question whether his focus on mountain biking and cyclocross has limited his potential on the road.

The tension between Pidcock and INEOS also stemmed from his ambitions at the Tour de France. While Pidcock aspired to lead the team at cycling’s biggest race, INEOS seemed reluctant to fully back him, particularly with rising stars like Carlos Rodríguez in their ranks. This disconnect, coupled with off-road commitments, ultimately made their split inevitable.

And perhaps Pidcock’s failures with INEOS is a reflection of where the team, and in fact British cycling, is at right now. Maybe it is time for British cycling fans that the golden generation of the 2010s is most definitely over. It is time to stop clinging to the past, and look to how British riders can get back on top in the future.

There’s no denying that Tom Pidcock is one of the most talented riders Great Britain has produced in recent years, he’s got a little bit everything both on the road and off. But the fact remains that in recent years he simply has not lived up to INEOS’, and his own expectations. Over his four seasons with the team, Pidcock has picked up just five wins. Yep, five. For a man with such talent and pedigree, not to mention his huge salary, that is simply not enough.

As he departs INEOS, Pidcock’s future remains uncertain. While Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team has been linked as a possible destination, it remains to be seen whether another WorldTour team will swoop in an sabotage the Swiss team’s plans. Regardless of where he lands, Pidcock’s talent and versatility make him one of the most intriguing riders in the sport.

Whether it’s targeting more Grand Tour stages, winning monuments, or continuing to dominate off-road disciplines, Pidcock’s next chapter needs to be about defining what it is he wants to achieve in his racing career. Does he want to win grand tour general classifications, or stages? Or does he want to target more monuments? And where do his off-road plans fit into all of this?

For both Pidcock and INEOS, this is probably for the best. Pidcock’s character was never going to be like those INEOS have had success with before, and the relationship never truly gelled. Both must rediscover their best form in the coming years, or face slipping back even further in the peloton.