Tom Pidcock has four specifically picked domestiques in his hunt for a record-breaking rainbow jersey

Pidcock has long been regarded as one of the world’s greatest cycling talents. He became a two-time Olympic champion in mountain biking and also claimed his second world title on fat tires in Val di Sole this year. He became the world champion in cyclocross in 2022. And on the road, he has also steadily improved, with victories in the Amstel Gold Race and the Strade Bianche.

But he hasn't managed to become road world champion yet, despite several attempts. In 2020 and 2024, he put in a lackluster performance in the road race, but his sixth-place finish in 2021 left him wanting more. Last year, he hoped to contend for a medal, but with a tenth-place finish, he still ended up seven minutes short of the bronze. This year, however, his preparation has been a little different.

Fresh off the Vuelta a España, he didn’t really impress in Kigali, but the 27-year-old Brit took a different approach this year. After winning the world title in mountain biking, he made a glorious comeback with a victory in the GP Industria & Artigianato and put in strong performances in the Canadian classics. With a strong British team, even greater things should be in store. These are the men who can help him secure that victory.

Let's start with one of Pidcock's teammates. Wright is 27 years old and has been riding for Pinarello - Q36.5 since this year. His results have been mixed, but the all-rounder shows flashes of his talent. For example, he won the British national road championship and finished second in both Rund um Köln and the GP Criquielion. The Brit is a fast rider with strong legs for short climbs.

Normally, we’ll see Wright mainly in the first part of the race, where the roads are flat, alongside rising star Callum Thornley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe). But he’ll also be a valuable asset during the opening laps in Montreal. As Pidcock’s teammate, his presence is invaluable.

The same is true for Mark Donovan. The climber is a veteran of the team: he signed his contract when the team was first formed. When Pidcock joined the team in 2025, a key role was immediately set aside for his compatriot. The team supported him in the tougher one-day races, while allowing him to pursue his own success elsewhere.

For example, he finished second in the Muur Classic Geraardsbergen, but he also nearly won the Settimana Ciclista Coppi e Bartali. This year, he demonstrated his strong form in the fall with solid results in the Tour of Britain, the Sibiu Cycling Tour, and the Tour of Poland. Donovan has outstanding climbing skills, but he’s also explosive and can hang on for a long time in the classics: a crucial asset for Pidcock, who could potentially stay in contention for a long time, along with Finlay Pickering (Jayco AlUla).

Along with James Shaw (EF Education-EasyPost), Adam Yates is the only rider in his thirties on the team, and he will be the undisputed road captain. In his thirteen years as a pro, he has only competed in the World Championships five times, with unremarkable results. But more important than that is his experience in Canada. We’re talking about a true Montreal specialist here, which will come in handy for team leader Pidcock.

He had already finished second in 2015, and that marked the beginning of a successful partnership. 14th in 2019, fourth in 2022, fifth in 2025... The crowning achievement came in 2023, when Yates beat his future teammate Pavel Sivakov and claimed victory in Montréal. He was on top form again this year, finishing in thirteenth place. The course seems tailor-made for the small climber.

What Oscar Onley’s presence on the British team will mean will become clear during the road race. But the Scot from Netcompany INEOS is fresh off the Vuelta a España, where he battled for podium spots for a long time and ultimately finished sixth and claimed the white jersey. With his talents, he will certainly be an asset at the World Championships.

Onley keeps pace with the best, but he’s also extremely explosive. He demonstrated that while riding for Picnic PostNL, when he won on Willunga Hill at the Tour Down Under. And again for his new team, when he beat fellow World Championship dark horse Giulio Ciccone at the Vuelta a Burgos. He has only competed in the World Championships twice, with a solid performance in 2024 (16th). Is Onley the key asset for Pidcock, or is he actually the shadow leader?