Tom Pidcock's team mate just accidentally revealed his 'real goal' at the Tour de France

Over the past few weeks there’s been plenty said and written about ambitions and goals for the Tour de France. However, things have been rather quiet surrounding one prominent rider in particular: Tom Pidcock, team leader of Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling. Will the shrewd Brit be able to operate from the shadows and strike while the iron is hot?

When the eight-man roster was announced, it became clear that Pinarello–Q36.5 intends to go on the offensive at 2026 The Tour de France. “Eight riders, one mission: to make history in the Tour de France,” read the announcement marking the Swiss team’s Tour debut.

After all, the team was founded less than three years ago and can therefore quickly shift its focus to the world’s biggest cycling stage. That’s where the team aims to shine, with stage victories considered by some to be its ultimate goal.

With Pidcock, Q36.5 certainly has someone on the team who knows what it’s like to win the Tour de France. “The team has assembled a versatile roster around Tom that can perform on any terrain, with proven Grand Tour experience and riders who can support the leader, join breakaways, and compete for stage wins throughout the three weeks,” the team said at the time of the announcement.

Fred Wright, Quinten Hermans, Xandro Meurisse, Brent Van Moer, Xabier Mikel Azparren, Damien Howson, and Chris Harper round out the attack-minded octet that is eager for success. That is the conclusion we can and should draw from a recently uploaded YouTube video by the team. The video offers a glimpse into the day-to-day operations during Tour preparations.

"We show how the key riders and staff are preparing during a three-week training camp in the Sierra Nevada to support Tom Pidcock in peak condition during the Tour de France," says the opening shot.

From the 21-minute mini-documentary, it’s clear that the mood was definitely good among Pidcock and the team. In addition to their intense training sessions, there’s plenty of laughter—for example, while watching a football match. The diminutive team leader from Leeds, who is deservedly included in our general classification prediction, seems to be fitting in incredibly well with the group.

That’s something Hermans also confirms and emphasizes. “Tom is aiming for a good overall classification,” he explains, perhaps somewhat contrary to initial expectations, in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. “The Brit is a very grateful and pleasant rider to have on the team. I also have no problem giving it my all in support of a team leader.”

So while at first it seemed the focus was mainly on chasing stage wins, according to Hermans, the main priority is for Pidcock to achieve a good overall finish. “Tom’s best possible overall finish is the main goal,” he continues in the Belgian daily. “We have a strong team as a whole. Maybe no one really stands out above the rest, but we’re still going to do our best to make our mark in the transition stages and the high mountains with Tom.”