A smiling Pidcock is the most dangerous Pidcock, according to Q36.5: "Some people might want to change him"
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Follow us on GoogleTom Pidcock is at the top of his game, and not just his results prove it. After switching from INEOS Grenadiers to Q36.5, the 25-year-old British rider immediately won two stages and the GC in AlUla, a stage in the Ruta del Sol, and finished on the podium in Strade Bianche and the Flèche Wallonne. But there is much more to come, warns his coach Kurt Bogaerts in conversation with Cycling Weekly.
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Pidcock got off to a flying start this year and ended his first part of the season after a crash in Milan-Sanremo. Once back, he finished ninth in the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège and third in the Flèche Wallonne. "But he was unfortunate to puncture in the last 10km of Amstel Gold, and he should have been second or third at Liège [Bastogne-Liège]. There have been a few small mistakes like hydration and fuelling errors," said Bogaerts.
In the Giro d'Italia, Pidcock immediately kicked off with fifth place in the first stage and rode an excellent time trial on day 2. "Full throttle every day," is his ambition in this race, whether that leads to stage success or a good overall classification. "Tom has definitely become a better rider and we see that his numbers have also improved. There have been a lot of small things, different parts of the puzzle that have come together."
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Tom Pidcock at the Giro
Pidcock smiles again and enjoys cycling
Bogaerts aims for more intensity, while Pidcock has maintained the same volume in his training and has taken steps in his nutrition. But it is, above all, the smile on the face of the two-time Olympic mountain biking champion that stands out. "He’s in a good place again and you can see that he’s enjoying racing his bike," his trainer observes. "We don’t have a massive target for him, but we instead just want to get the maximum out of him."
That seems to be working because while INEOS wanted to turn him into a GC contender for years, Q36.5 mainly wants Pidcock to be able to compete in every race. "We’re not saying we want to win a particular race – we just want to be consistently in the game, give him the tools to perform on the day, and we’ll see where it brings him"
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Pidcock is smiling again!
Q36.5 doesn't limit Pidcock to only road cycling
The fact that Pidcock skipped cyclo-cross last winter doesn't mean we'll only see him in action on the road. Bogaerts emphasizes that his protégé remains a rider for all disciplines. "That’s who he is. Maybe people want to change him to go in one particular direction, but Tom hasn’t made that choice yet and maybe never will make a definitive choice."
According to the Belgian, it's all about progress, whatever bike that may be on. 2He just sees progression in every part of cycling, and he pushes everyone around him to support him in that kind of philosophy. We will do some mountain biking this summer and then gravel at the end of the year, and it’s what he likes to do. In his current program, I don’t think that’ll bring any negatives onto the road. It cannot be an excuse not to perform at his best on the road."
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026