Pidcock keeps focus on road cycling, but cross country in 2026 is a possibility - albeit with a condition

Tom Pidcock is one of the most remarkable cycling talents of his generation. A double Olympic champion on the mountain bike and now just 26 years old, he has also delivered impressive performances on the road — and, of course, in cyclo-cross, where he was once world champion. Yet it’s been some time since we last saw him race in the mud. Could 2026 be the year of his return?

In 2020, Pidcock won a Superprestige cyclo-cross race and finished second only to Mathieu van der Poel at the World Championships. In 2022, he struck gold in Fayetteville in a race without both van der Poel and Wout van Aert. But his most recent cyclo-cross start dates back to 2024 at Benidorm, and he skipped the cyclo-cross season this past winter as well.

Is cyclo-cross a thing of the past for him? His coach, Kurt Bogaerts, doesn’t think so. However, it’s a tricky situation. The Brit from Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling prioritises road racing, and that will continue to be his main focus. “But it’s certainly possible Tom will be seen in the cyclo-cross next season,” Bogaerts told Sporza. “But he wouldn’t just turn up — first he’d have to race fewer road events.”

“And if Tom were to start cross again, he’d want to be immediately competitive and in the mix for the prizes.” That’s no small hurdle given how cyclo-cross works. Starting positions are based on world ranking, and because Pidcock didn’t race any cyclo-cross this past winter, he would have to start right at the back in his first races. “If you have to come from behind and race through the field, that’s not ideal,” Bogaerts explained.

Not everything is lost, though. There are potential lifelines for road riders returning to cyclo-cross — notably the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup series. If Pidcock can retain a strong road ranking (he is currently in the top 10), that could earn him a better starting row — potentially the fifth row — in World Cup races.

That opens up genuine racing possibilities. His teammate Quinten Hermans has already tested the Pinarello cyclo-cross equipment. But with the next cyclo-cross winter still far off, Pidcock will first need to navigate a full road season. The Spring Classics will again be crucial to his calendar. “His programme in the spring will be similar to previous years. Omloop Het Nieuwsblad will once again be on the menu,” Bogaerts concluded.