Praise for Pidcock in Bax comeback story: “In terms of professionalism, it’s almost even more serious than at UAE”

One second place, but 2025 was still not the debut year that Sjoerd Bax had hoped for at Q36.5. IDLProCycling.com spoke with the 30-year-old Dutchman about finally having a good winter, the all-important role that Tom Pidcock plays within the team, and his plans for the new season. The atmosphere, the form, and the mindset are all good: that bodes well for 2026!

After two years at UAE Team Emirates, the end of 2024 brought time for a new adventure for Bax. The rider from Gorinchem chose to continue his career at Q36.5. But his first year there — like his spring — did not come with a smooth build-up. A heavy crash in Il Lombardia caused hip problems that required multiple operations.

With that disrupted preparation, his debut season at Q36.5 ultimately wasn’t particularly successful. “That was difficult, because I certainly expected more from myself as well. I would’ve liked to be racing for wins more often, but the level rises every year. And if you have something like that, you’re missing those few percent.”

“I sometimes felt like I was maybe 3–4% short, but 3–4% on 450 watts — that’s quite a lot.” Bax explained that mentally he didn’t struggle too much. “That was okay, because I did feel it was getting a bit better each time, also with my hip. At the start of the season I had more issues than towards the end.”

And so the tall Dutchman from Gorinchem has plenty of hope to build on things. “Sometimes you get into a race and the level is so high. And I’m not a climber either. Or there’s a Quinn Simmons who also wants to be in the early break — then it becomes difficult.”

He did come close in his debut year, with second place in the Giro d’Abruzzo. And a win — that would be more than welcome this year. “I think it would be in some of the smaller races. Really the .1 races and sometimes a .Pro race.”

In any case, preparation for the new season has gone far more smoothly than in previous years, when his hip kept causing problems. “I’ve had a pretty good winter. I’ve been in Spain for a long time. The weather here hasn’t always been great, but I’ve been able to train well.”

That’s a big contrast to the winters of 2023/2024 and 2024/2025. “Both times I had an operation, and now I’ve had one without any problems. So I’m in a good place.” And a trouble-free winter feels very good indeed. “I’ve actually had very few winters where I really got through it well, so to speak. Now I have. I do think it makes a difference.”

Bax explains why. “Because then in the first race you might still be able to take a step, instead of starting the first race a bit cautiously. Last year it was a bit like that. The year got going more and more slowly based on the results.” His first race this year will be the AlUla Tour, which starts on Tuesday. He hopes to be good straight away.

But, he adds: “Not for my own GC, but just to get a good race stimulus immediately. And to be at a good level right away. After that I would go to Murcia and Almería, so I’m just ready from the start. Hopefully with the Giro as the ultimate goal, but that’s not completely certain yet. It depends how things go.” Bax is on a longlist for the Giro d’Italia — which would mean his Grand Tour debut at the age of 30.

So Bax had a strong winter, and that comes after his team made big strides last year. The results were strong and with Tom Pidcock, Q36.5 played an increasingly important role in major races. That development leaves Bax satisfied. “We’ve already shown some things, but now we really have to show it. There’s simply a bit more certainty and confidence now.”

The Dutchman sees a big difference compared to before — especially for the riders who were already on the team. “They had some really bad years before that. Luckily I haven’t really experienced that.” Bax was still at UAE at the time, before making the move to Q36.5 — a transfer he is very happy with.

“In terms of professionalism, it’s almost like it’s even more serious here than at UAE,” says Bax. “Here they really want to get everything out of the details. In racing it’s different with UAE, because you start every race with the idea: we’re going to win. Here it was different in the beginning — you really still have to find your place in the peloton. With UAE it’s standard: we deserve to ride at the front, because we have that leader.”

As leader, Bax swapped Tadej Pogacar for Pidcock. How does he experience his British team leader? “He’s really a guy who carries the team as well. It’s like: he joined, and because of him the whole team changed. He also brought a coach, soigneurs and support staff with him. The team has improved a lot because of that. I don’t know what the future of the team would’ve been if he hadn’t joined.”

They haven’t raced together all that much yet, but Bax also hopes to play his part in Pidcock’s success — and to give the team more cards to play. “We’ve brought in new guys so that in the bigger races we can race for results more often. Last year, in a bigger race the goal was to be in the early break; now we can ride a Monument top ten with Quinten Hermans or Xandro Meurisse,” says the Dutchman.