Tom Pidcock credits Q36.5's revolutionary ‘condom’ for Flèche Wallonne podium in brutal cold

The life of a professional cyclist is not always sunshine and smooth roads. Often you’re racing in extreme heat, but it can just as easily swing the other way. Just think of this year’s Paris–Nice, where Michael Storer (Tudor) won the queen stage in snow and freezing temperatures. And in Flèche Wallonne, the last two editions were nothing short of hell.

The 2024 edition will especially go into the history books. While Stephen Williams enjoyed the biggest victory of his career, other riders were suffering badly. Only 44 riders reached the finish, while others had to climb off with hypothermia. Mattias Skjelmose was one of the most striking victims: he had to be lifted from his bike, shaking violently from the cold. In 2025, more than 70 riders abandoned again, in part due to the horrific weather.

Tom Pidcock didn’t have to step off that day. The Briton was riding his first Ardennes campaign in the colours of Q36.5 Pro Cycling, having already finished ninth in the Amstel Gold Race. On the Mur de Huy, he was able to follow the best—everyone except Tadej Pogačar, that is. Behind the untouchable world champion, Pidcock finished an impressive third. And all that in brutal conditions: he crossed the line shivering from the cold.

That performance was no coincidence. Q36.5, the team’s title sponsor, is a high-end cycling clothing manufacturer. It was a special rain kit that kept the Brit warm, even in the coldest moments. Working together with Pidcock, the company developed what they affectionately—and jokingly—call the “condom”: a close-fitting cycling jersey designed to repel rain and keep riders warm.

Luigi Bergamo, the founder of Q36.5, explained to Road.cc what makes the jersey so special. "The 'Condom' is engineered to be the last layer in the rider's rain system to be worn even without a jersey underneath, worn underneath either the Vampire, or Vampire + Rain Shell/Rain Shell Plus which will be removed in the last kilometres where the rider needs to be as aero as possible."

Pidcock played an important role in developing the product. The idea came to life in conversation with the Italian. "He was telling me how, as a protected rider, he would often spend hours racing very protected in the bunch, with a heart rate as low as 80BPM and how this meant, if the weather was bad, he would suffer the cold tremendously and needed truly thermal racing gear."

Pidcock himself confirmed on Instagram how important Q36.5's innovation is to him. "Proud to be have been part of the development process of the new Q36.5 Foul Weather jackets which have just launched. Working with Luigi and his team at Q36.5 is a game changer for me and the whole team in terms of performance aided by clothing."

People sometimes underestimate how important good clothing is for a professional cyclist, but Pidcock certainly doesn’t. " I don’t think my podium in Flèche Wallonne would have been possible without this kit… I’m hoping for more races in the sun next year, but I’m glad to know I’ll be better prepared than ever if the weather turns bad.”