Pinarello-Q36.5 weigh up Pidcock and Ciccone as co-leaders in 2027: 'Rather have two spirited riders than one'
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Follow us on GooglePinarello-Q36.5 now have two leaders who can win on the same terrain. Tom Pidcock and new signing Giulio Ciccone are both Classics contenders and stage racers, and they raced against each other at the World Championships in Canada. That raises an obvious question for 2027: who leads? Sports director Gabriele Missaglia says it isn't a problem.
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"I'd rather have two spirited riders than one," Missaglia told BiciPro. The Italian spoke in Rome at the recent 2027 Giro d'Italia route presentation.
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Tom Pidcock has been the sole leader at Q36.5 for a while
Missaglia: 'Not having all the pressure on a sole rider can be an advantage'
Missaglia doesn't see a power struggle coming. He sees a way to share the load. "In my view, both should see the positive side of things. For me, and for them, not having all the pressure on a sole rider can be an advantage," he said.
"Sharing the responsibilities, even in the same race, is better, not just tactically but also in terms of managing the pressure."
The former pro also told BiciPro that Ciccone had been welcomed with open arms. He described the Italian as outgoing and direct, which is the kind of person he likes. Missaglia will be the one deciding the goals and race programmes for both riders next season.
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Both at Milan-San Remo, maybe only Ciccone at Tirreno
The calendars aren't set yet, but Missaglia already has an idea of where the two will cross paths. "I think they'll race together on some occasions," he said, before naming the first race where he wants them side by side.
Perhaps only Ciccone will ride Tirreno-Adriatico but I'd like to see both of them at the start of Milan-San Remo.- Gabriele Missaglia to BiciPro.
Milan-San Remo is an obvious place for that plan. In March, Pidcock finished second there behind Tadej Pogačar after the pair went clear on the Cipressa. A few days earlier, the Briton had won Milano-Torino.
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Ciccone: 'I've always admired him'
Pidcock finished 2026 fifth in the UCI rankings, the best of his career, and scored more than four times as many points as any of his teammates. He will lead the team for a third straight season.
Ciccone signed a three-year deal after leaving Lidl-Trek early. He is a three-time Giro stage winner and has won the mountains jersey twice at the Giro and once at the Tour de France.
He was the Swiss ProTeam's 11th signing for 2027, along with riders such as Mauro Schmid and Ethan Hayter.
When he signed, the Italian made clear he wasn't arriving to compete with his new leader.
"I've always admired him, not only because of his talent, but because he's a rider who thinks differently and isn't afraid to do things his own way. I hope we can bring something extra to each other and build something special together."- Giulio Ciccone on Tom Pidcock.
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David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- If he finished ninth at the Tour, why didn’t he get a stage win too? I’m still trying to understand how the overall standings work.julien11-11-2026
- I like the honesty of that training post. Even the best riders feel the difference after a few weeks off, and he’s got plenty of time to build back up.samanthak11-11-2026
- Fifth in the world rankings after that autumn run is some achievement. Pidcock was so aggressive at the Tour, too—hopefully he can turn a few of those near-misses into wins inpatriciaw11-11-2026
- Does XEFI’s investment mean the team will have more money to sign riders, or is it mainly a sponsorship and naming change? And is Roglič expected to race much next season?jeremya11-11-2026
- If the roster is nearly complete, why bring up Roglič at all? Feels like the article is turning a firm “no” into a transfer rumour.andrewf11-11-2026
- Wuling is no joke—105 km of climbing to 3,275 metres is brutal. Five minutes off Dyball’s record is still an incredible ride.velodromevirtuoso111-11-2026
- Roglič at TotalEnergies would be a fascinating move, but Heulot sounds pretty clear that it isn’t happening. His experience could be a massive boost for the younger riders, though.jennifer1911-11-2026
- Eight riders told to go for stages, and nobody gets one—hard to know what the plan was there. It’ll be interesting to see whether they pick a clear leader next time.bikebuffj10-11-2026
- Was Bernal’s 20th place really their best GC result? I thought he might have finished higher. Either way, it sounds like a rough Tour for the whole team.gearguru3310-11-2026
- Five days in breaks with no stage win is a painful stat. The team had chances, but they need to turn those opportunities into results.julien10-11-2026