Tom Pidcock shares photo of bizarre training incident ahead of World Championships - "Got in a fight"
CyclingSunday, 20 September 2026 at 13:34
Tom Pidcock has revealed he 'got in a fight' just over a week before he'll take on one of the battles of his life, but not in the way you expect. Based in Montreal ahead of the rainbow jersey race, the British rider suffered an unfortunate training incident.
That fight turned out to be with a bee or wasp as the Pinarello Q36.5 rider shared a photo of the aftermath of a sting on his lower lip, sporting a severely swollen lip as a result of the sting.
He saw the fun side of the incident, taking to Instagram to show off the results of the sting, saying: "Got in a fight".
After an eventful Tour de France saw him nail down a top ten overall finish, Pidcock has been in fine form as he builds towards the World Championships. He took a resounding victory in the Mountain Bike World Championships at the end of August as well as a win at GP Industria & Artigianiato just a week later.
Riding the Canadian one-day races last weekend, the versatile rider took 4th place in Quebec and 6th in the Montreal dress rehearsal - with the race held over the same circuit that will decide next weekend's World Championships road race.
Demonstrating strong form, and with a strong Great Britain team behind him, Pidcock could prove one of the key players. Without Tadej Pogacar at the race, the emphasis to control the race is expected to fall on the likes of Belgium and France, giving Pidcock an opportunity to capitalise on the top contenders focusing on eachother.
Tom Pidcock shared the picture on Instagram
Pidcock's presence has benefitted Pinarello Q36.5
His Pinarello team have gone from strength to strength over the past two seasons, widely influenced by Pidcock himself. Doug Ryder, team manager, argued that the 2025 Vuelta a España was an example of that:
"Before that Vuelta, Pidcock said: 'Please, I don’t ever want to hear on the morning of a stage that our objective is not to lose time on GC'," Ryder said in an interview with Cyclist.
"And it’s that thought of every day is an opportunity, every rider has a value, and everyone that supports him, he then wants to support in return. It also makes it less arduous to get through a three-week marathon. It’s good to have electricity and fun within the peloton with riders duking it out for their own objectives".
Team hope Pidcock influence can impact potential Seixas transfer talks
The team have showed intentions to sign French sensation Paul Seixas, and it's hoped that the Pidcock project and how it has panned out can also entice one of cycling's hottest properties to join their team.
"Look, any team is a bit naïve if they if they say they're not interested in the super-kid from France, and every team is throwing their hat in the ring".
"And there is interest from us as well," he confirms. "You’d be crazy not to have it. He’s a very good kid respecting his current contract. We have to see how it goes next year".
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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