Without Tom Pidcock, but with big ambition - Pinarello Q36.5 aim for stage win at 2026 Giro d'Italia
Cycling
Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team have net wildcards for the races they desire in the 2026 season, and they are managing their season much like the World Tour outfits. At the Giro d'Italia, the Swiss team starts with stage winning ambitions, even if they do not have their leader Tom Pidcock at the start line.
A lot of the team's weapons are being saved towards the Tour de France; however Pinarello has solid chances of netting a stage win here, on different terrain with riders of different specialties.
“The Giro is a race where you have to think day by day. There isn’t just one path to success here—you need to read the race, understand the moment, and be ready to act," team DS Gabriele Missaglia said in a press release.
“We come with a group that can be competitive in many different situations. We’re not here to defend, we’re here to race. Every stage can be an opportunity, whether it’s a sprint, a breakaway or a difficult climb. In a race like this, attitude is everything. If you commit fully as a team, with clarity and timing, the results can come.”
Chris Harper leads the way
With a thinned down GC field, it could be that Chris Harper, last year's winner at the Colle delle Finestre stage, could aim for the overall classification after a seventh place in the Tour of the Alps. However, the 31-year old should be focusing on the team's big goal of capturing a stage win.
In the mountains they will be hunting one through the abilities of Harper, but also the Spaniard David de la Cruz who rides his fifth Giro and also Briton Mark Donovan.
The team's biggest chance of winning a stage however may be in a bunch sprint, with several opportunities and Matteo Moschetti in the lead. The Italian has not yet won this season but comes with good form after a third place at the hilly Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic.
Fabio Christen is a solid contender to chase stage wins on the many hilly days of the race; whilst the lineup also featured Sjoerd Bax, David Gonzalez and Nikolas Zukowsky.
Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team for Giro d'Italia 2026:
| Riders |
| Sjoerd Bax |
| Fabio Christen |
| David de la Cruz |
| Mark Donovan |
| David Gonzalez |
| Chris Harper |
| Matteo Moschetti |
| Nikolas Zukowsky |
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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.
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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)...
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