He had already hinted at it, but has now confirmed the news. Tom Pidcock himself took to social media to inform fans that he will not race cyclocross this winter, as he looks to put his full focus into the transition onto the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team after a late transfer.
Pidcock, a former cyclocross World Champion at Elite level just a few years ago, has continuously used the off-road discipline to keep himself active and racing throughout the winter in recent years. Although it was evident that he no longer carried the big ambitions he once did when he raced the discipline almost full-time, it was expected that he'd announce a small racing calendar such as that of Wout van Aert, for the sake of some competition. But the choice is different this winter for the Briton.
"On Sunday I watched my first cyclocross of the this season and it reminded me I should probably officially mention that this year, I will not race cyclocross," Pidcock wrote in an Instagram post.
"With a lot of change I want to make sure I have the time to settle into a new environment to get to know my new team and teammates well. But so far my plan will be to return to the field next year".
Pidcock was the star of a massive story that unraveled this winter, as within the INEOS Grenadiers management there was unsatisfaction towards him. Ultimately, he was removed with no particular reason from the lineup to Il Lombardia - a race that followed the Giro dell'Emilia where he was second to Tadej Pogacar.
Whilst the situation seemed to have stabilized, including the dismissal of DS Steve Cummings with whom he reportedly had a feud with - and him being present at a team building camp in Manchester about a month ago, it was made evident that a move would come as Pidcock was not present at the team's first training camp in Spain. He signed with the Swiss team despite having three years of contract remaining, but will continue to race Pinarello bikes in cyclocross and Mountain Biking.