“We’re going to make our mark in the high mountains” - Tom Pidcock and Q36.5 go all-in on GC dream at 2026 Tour de France

Tom Pidcock is not heading to the 2026 Tour de France as a luxury stage hunter. At Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, the message before the Swiss team’s Tour debut is now far more ambitious than that.

Pidcock will lead the team into the Grand Depart after finishing third overall at the 2025 Vuelta a Espana, a result that changed the way his Grand Tour ceiling is viewed. The Tour, though, is a different test entirely. With Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, Florian Lipowitz and Paul Seixas all expected to shape the sharp end of the general classification, even a repeat of that Vuelta-level result would be a huge ask.

That has not stopped Q36.5 from building its race around him. Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Quinten Hermans made clear that Pidcock’s place in the team is not just symbolic.

“Tom is aiming for a good overall classification,” said Hermans. “The Brit is a very grateful and pleasant rider to have on the team. I also have no problem giving it my all in support of a team leader.”

Pinarello Q36.5 arrive at the Tour with Fred Wright, Quinten Hermans, Xandro Meurisse, Brent Van Moer, Xabier Mikel Azparren, Damien Howson and Chris Harper alongside Pidcock. It is a squad with enough range to chase breaks, survive chaotic transition days and support its leader once the race reaches the mountains.

For a team making its Tour de France debut, stage wins would already be a natural target. Pidcock has won on Alpe d’Huez, remains one of the most dangerous descenders in the peloton and has the punch to turn reduced-group finishes into something more than damage limitation.

Hermans, however, placed the emphasis firmly on the overall picture. “Tom’s best possible overall finish is the main goal,” he continued. “We have a strong team as a whole. Maybe no one really stands out above the rest, but we’re still going to do our best to make our mark in the transition stages and the high mountains with Tom.”

Pidcock’s route into the race has not been completely smooth, but his recent win at the Andorra MoraBanc Classica offered a timely sign that his climbing legs are there. On a hard mountain parcours, he beat Carlos Verona and Sepp Kuss, two riders with enough climbing pedigree to make that result more than a confidence-booster.

The Tour’s deepest GC days will ask a different question. Pidcock has already proved he can last three weeks at a high level, but the leading contenders here tend to remove hiding places quickly. Q36.5 may be all-in, yet they will not have the same mountain control around him as UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Team Visma | Lease a Bike or Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe.

If Pidcock stays close, Q36.5 have a genuine GC project to defend. If the podium fight proves too fierce, he can still become one of the most dangerous stage threats in the race.

Pidcock arrives with protected status, a Vuelta podium behind him and a Tour de France GC dream that looks difficult enough to be doubted, but serious enough to follow.