Pidcock looks ahead to ‘Spanish Strade Bianche’ and much more after successful return

Pidcock spoke in Murcia with Marca, looking ahead to his next target: the Clásica Jaén Paraíso Interior. The so-called Spanish Strade Bianche has been on the calendar for a few years now, but it will be Pidcock’s first appearance in the race around Úbeda.

Whether the race can be run in its traditional form is uncertain due to forecast rain and wind, but Pidcock was already looking forward to it in Murcia. “This race fits perfectly with what I want to achieve at this stage of the year. It’s the only test for Strade Bianche — a similar type of race.”

Pidcock’s programme is packed — with a few different accents compared to 2025. Last year he rode the AlUla Tour; this time it’s Murcia and Jaén. He rode Tirreno-Adriatico in 2025; this year that slot is filled by the Volta a Catalunya. There is also a key difference after the spring: in 2025 it was the Vuelta; this year the Tour de France is the big target.

After his surprise third place at the Vuelta a España, Pidcock hopes to ride a serious general classification in the Tour for the first time. “It’s a challenge we’re working on. After my podium at the Vuelta, I’m also aiming for a podium in the other Grand Tours.”

The fact he will likely run into Tadej Pogačar at the Tour does not scare Pidcock off. He tried to follow him at Strade Bianche 2025, and intends to do the same at the Tour in 2026. “He can be beaten, because everyone can be beaten. But I’m not talking about that — I’m only focused on my own form.”

In an interview with The Observer, Pidcock went deeper into his specific goals — and into searching for his limits. His move from INEOS Grenadiers to Q36.5 was, he said, “a massive thing for me,” because of “the new level of motivation, new level of confidence in the people around me, but also the level of confidence that they have in me — is really powerful.”

According to Pidcock, that contributes more to his current level than his physical capabilities alone. Those, he suggests, have always been there. With Pinarello–Q36.5, the Brit also hopes to rediscover his love for the Tour — because in recent years he had lost some of it.

“I need to refind that excitement for the Tour,” he said. “There’s such high pressure and expectations from external people, but also internally, from teams. In our team, I think it will be different. My main goal is to go there and have fun and enjoy it and I think that will bring success. Obviously, we’re going to have to train our balls off.”

“I’m confident that my team can get me in a good place in terms of my physical shape. And mentally, I’d say I’m very strong, to be honest. And the pressure doesn’t really get to me,” Pidcock said. “[The Tour] is the biggest race in the world. It’s the race that inspired me when I was young… but to race, it’s not the most enjoyable. Hopefully we can change that.”

Because when Pidcock is having fun, he is at his most dangerous — even if good legs always help. “Before, I wasn’t at that level to compete for a podium,” he explained. “When you’re competing just to stay in the top 10, I struggle to find the motivation to do that and have to battle [with] that for three weeks. It’s just draining.” Now, he says, he is exploring his limits with Q36.5: “I don’t know where the ceiling is… we’re exploring new limits and we’re not afraid to fail.”