"You don't just kick double Olympic champions in the ass" - Michel Wuyts critical INEOS' treatment of Tom Pidcock

Tom Pidcock's future has been one of the most discussed topics in the cycling world towards the end of the 2024 season. After being controversially left out of INEOS Grenadiers' Il Lombardia lineup there seemed to be no future for the Brit at the team, with rumours of moves to Q36.5 or even Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe.

As the 2025 season gets ever nearer though, Pidcock now looks set to continue on with the INEOS Grenadiers as the British team look to regroup and reassess after some disappointing campaigns, making wholesale changes to the performance staff. According to the experienced and respected Belgian cycling expert Michel Wuyts though, the treatment of Pidcock from the INEOS Grenadiers has left a lot to be desired.

"The most amazing thing was that INEOS initially saw no problem with that (the reported move to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team ed.). 'Good that we are rid of that troublemaker,' the followers of owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe must have thought," Wuyts says in his column for HLN. "They even wanted to extend a helping hand to Q36.5 by paying part of his wages. I suppose Tommy from Leeds, after that bit of brilliance in Emilia, gave his leaders a good talking to. Like 'you see, gentlemen know-it-alls'. 'No Lombardy then, Mr Pidcock. And kick it off. There's no way to gauge your performance.'"

Given Pidcock's standing as one of the INEOS Grenadiers most likely race winners though, Wuyts doesn't feel this was the best approach. "You don't just kick Olympic champions — doubles especially — and Members of the British Empire in the ass," says the Belgian. "They belong to the secure patrimony. Then I prefer a nice pillow full of duck feathers down underneath."

"No, they won't win the Tour," he concludes. "And Pidcock? Whether he will feature more prominently depends on a change in mentality. Completing a build-up programme towards his road campaign more closely is needed. Growing in openness and developing valued leadership becomes essential. ‘May God bless you, Tom.’"