Pidcock makes a big impression during introduction to new team: "I haven't seen this with other leaders"
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Follow us on GoogleIt was the number one transfer saga of this winter: Tom Pidcock seemed set to leave INEOS Grenadiers, then appeared likely to stay, only to ultimately sign with Q36.5 anyway. Now at his new team, Pidcock has completed his debut as team leader — a transition team boss Doug Ryder hailed as a resounding success. "Tom has really impressed our riders," he shared.
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While Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are currently diving into cyclo-cross, that’s not the case for Pidcock. The Brit is skipping a winter of racing, as he announced on social media last week. "With a lot of change I want to make sure I have the time to settle into a new environment to get to know my new team and teammates well," he explained.
Pidcock has already completed his introduction to the team, having attended the first training camp in Spain. "His attention to detail is next level," Ryder told the BBC about his new leader. "He focuses on every millimeter. On the bike positioning and the bike set-up, to the nutrition, to the race program, to the coaching."
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Pidcock’s signing is a "game changer" for Q36.5
"He met with all the leaders in our team. The head coach, the head nutritionist, the head doctor, the head of performance and was challenging and asking questions," continued Ryder, Q36.5’s manager. "He really, really wants to get the whole team on board with him, which I haven't seen in some big leaders in the past. He's such a good leader and motivator, and it has really impressed our riders."
Ryder describes Pidcock’s arrival as a game changer for the team. "We're going to give him full leadership, trust, and faith to try and support his goals and ambitions." He may have skipped cyclo-cross this winter, but the British superstar will indeed be racing on the road and in mountain biking next season.
Exactly which races he will compete in remains somewhat uncertain. As a ProContinental team, Q36.5 relies on wildcards and does not have direct access to the major races. However, with Pidcock on board, they hope to take significant steps in the right direction. In the long term, Ryder’s Swiss-based team aims to become one of the top teams in the world.
"This isn’t just a team change; it’s the beginning of something special," Pidcock said during his announcement as a new rider for Q36.5. "The chance to work with a growing team, alongside great partners and brands, is something that motivates me. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together."
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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