Pidcock finally responds to INEOS exit and skipping the Tour in 2025: "Glad to have a year of rest"

Will he stay or go? That was the question at the end of last season, but in December, the uncertainty ended: Pidcock would leave the team where he was supposed to be the star rider. "It just didn’t go how it should have at INEOS, and not how I envisioned it," he explained to Daniel Benson. "The solution we came to together was to terminate the contract. It was the best decision." Pidcock’s surprising omission from the Giro di Lombardia roster after a strong lead-up was a tipping point. "It wasn’t about one specific moment," he clarified. "It had been going on for a while. It’s no secret that I had a tough year, and I think INEOS did as well. It was a gradual process."

Although his departure was a hot topic, Pidcock found it relatively easy to turn the page. "I’ve already put it behind me. That team was like a second family to me, and I have amazing memories, but it was time for a change. I accepted that a long time ago, and now I’m fully focused on this project." That project is Q36.5 Pro Cycling, Doug Ryder’s pro-continental team.

Pidcock felt an immediate connection with his new team. "From my heart, after the first meeting, I knew this was where I wanted to ride. In my mind, I had been thinking about it for a while. But here, they truly believe in me. There’s a shared vision of success and the freedom to just ride. I decided this was one hundred percent the right choice. The people on this team are the smartest I’ve ever worked with."

"Many people questioned why I chose this team," said a frustrated Pidcock. "They said I’d be wasting my best years and that I should win as much as I can. But it’s not all about winning. It’s about the story you create, who you create it with, and what you achieve together. It’s about what you build, and here I can get more satisfaction out of my work than anywhere else."

Pidcock is set to start his season at the AlUla Tour before heading to Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. However, things work differently at the pro-continental level. "It’s all a bit new because now I need to be invited to races instead of having a set plan. We have a general idea of things, so hopefully, we’ll do the Italian block too. I’d love to race Milan-San Remo, Strade Bianche, and Tirreno-Adriatico, and then maybe the Giro. It’s possible, but nothing is confirmed yet."

Speaking to the BBC, Pidcock confirmed that the Tour de France is off the table for now. "We’ll take a year off and aim for the 2026 Tour. I’m glad to have a year of rest... A break. When I come back, it’ll be with renewed energy." The Giro d’Italia is therefore a likely Grand Tour target for the Brit, while the Vuelta a España also remains a possibility.