Tom Pidcock's brother Joe on overcoming debilitating mental issues and turning pro - "The hardest part of it was I was incapable of helping myself"
Cycling
Cycling is an incredibly difficult sport phisically speaking, but psychologically it does not get any easier. In modern times, all riders need to have a very high level of professionalism from an early age, and Joe Pidcock - Tom's brother - talks about how the diagnosis and medication for ADHD completely changed his life and allowed him to improve significantly as a rider.
"November 2023 I started on ADHD meds soon after a diagnosis and it completely changed my life. It was as if I suddenly stopped walking through 3 feet deep water like I had all my life," Pidcock said in an Instagram post. "Within 4 months I won my first race in over 3 years. Another month later I won my first UCI race".
"It’s not like the meds are magic, they couldn’t fix my concussion or cure Covid that ruined the rest of my year, I still need to see a phycologist every week and I’m not saying I don’t have to work for what I want. But before I was always felt depressed and unmotivated. I had a hard time socializing, making and especially keeping friends. And that’s not just motivation for cycling, it’s everything".
Read also
The younger Pidcock was part of Groupama - FDJ's continental team for two seasons, and for the past two years was part of the now disbanded Trinity Racing team. One of the best British promises out there, he reveals that up until the end of 2023 he suffered deeply with depression and undiagnosed mental illnesses. He details how difficult it was for him in a sincere publication.
"Like seeing friends, cooking dinner, texting my mum back, going to sleep, getting out of bed. I think the hardest part of it was I was incapable of helping myself. I didn’t even realize it wasn’t normal and I couldn’t have sorted any of this out without help," he shares.
"It was like having to learn everything in life at 21. I’ve come a long way but I think it’s fair to say I’ve still work to do. It’s very possible I have Aspergers and ADHD but I don’t think the label matters. I don’t want sympathy for any of this, I just think the world thinks ADHD just means you can’t sit still in school but from my experience it’s a lot more sinister than that".
In 2024 he took a step up, winning the final stage of the Dornan Rás Mumhan, the final stage of the Ronde de l'Isard, and putting in a few promising performances throughout the year that allowed the 22-year old to aim higher. With Tom Pidcock signing with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team at the end of the 2024 year, his influence led the team to sign his coach Kurt Bogaerts, soigneur Xenia de Roose, but also to provide his brother with another opportunity as his team collapsed this winter.
"Basically I owe everything to my family for getting me to where I needed to be. I’d be a bit fucked without yous. Thanks mum, what I’m saying is, if you’re in a similar situation or you’re close to someone that is similar just start with a bit of research it could completely change your life," he continues.
Now part of a ProTeam and more motivated than ever, he is keen on proving himself in the pro peloton. "Now with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team I believe I’ve found my new home I’m really grateful and excited for the years ahead. I wouldn’t have accepted a place here if I didn’t think I was capable. I’ll make sure it’s worth everyone’s time. Thank you to everyone that got me here and to everyone that will get me further".
Read also
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 3visitors 3
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling for
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment