Jens Voigt's opinion on Pidcock's breach: "If a rider can decide who works in a team, something is seriously wrong."

Yesterday, the bomb between Tom Pidcock and INEOS Grenadiers finally exploded. By mutual agreement, the two parties decided to part ways. This was no surprise for those who have followed cycling news over the past few months. The rumors were already there. They tried to continue together, only to finally announce the breakup. Eurosport analyst and former cyclist Jens Voigt saw it coming for weeks: 'This is not going to be a happy ending.'

To begin with, Voigt already found the Tour's ambitions extraordinary. "Despite all his class as a two-time Olympic champion, the GC is just not for him. He is too offensive and too spectacular to hide. He could win 10 Tour stages and a few classics in the next few years, but finishing a grand tour on the podium does not fit his rider profile," the German commented to Eurosport. 

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Jens Voigt as a rider

There were fundamental differences between INEOS and Pidcock

Voigt also saw fundamental differences between the rider and the team. "Tom still wants to compete in mountain bike, cyclo-cross races, and the road. But that is not what INEOS wants as a road team. Moreover, Steve Cummings was fired before the Vuelta a España because of an alleged disagreement with Pidcock. It was already clear that there would be no happy end. Because if a rider gets to decide who works on a team, something is seriously wrong." And then, according to German, "The rotten apple spoils the barrel."

So, the Olympic mountain bike champion had to leave. According to the former pro, Pidcock needs a team where he is the sole king à la Mathieu van der Poel. "A team where he has control over his own program. For that, he will probably have to move to a smaller team that is financially strong enough to afford him. But he has limited options. There are not many teams that have both space and resources to bring him in." Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team seems the biggest contender so far. But Voigt also sees potential in Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe since Red Bull already sponsors Pidcock.

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"INEOS is like a child no one wants to play with"

To conclude, Voigt briefly addressed the situation at INEOS. "Most of the team management had previously left the team and moved to Manchester United soccer club after Jim Ratcliffe (CEO INEOS, ed.) bought himself there. Right now, INEOS Grenadiers seem like the kid sitting in the corner who nobody wants to play with."

Read also

Evenepoel speaks out for the first time after crash: "It is going to be a long journey"

Pidcock departs from INEOS, awaiting new team and calendar: "The odds of him competing in cyclo-cross are unlikely"

"Generational talents" Pogacar and Evenepoel frustrate Healy: "If you want to win races, you have to beat them"

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