Thanks to an additional wild card granted this year at the Grand Tours, Q36.5 Pro Cycling made their debut appearance at the Giro d’Italia. To honor the organizer’s confidence, the Swiss team fielded some of their top talent, including Tom Pidcock and sprinter Matteo Moschetti. While their performance wasn’t disastrous, the team had set its sights higher than just a pair of stage podiums.
“We arrived with big ambitions and got hit with a dose of reality,” Pidcock told The Independent. “We knew it would be tough, but we also hoped to come out stronger. We didn’t get that elusive stage win or a top-10 in the general classification, but for a first outing, it’s not the end of the world. Honestly, it’s the best I’ve ever felt at the end of a Grand Tour.”
Many fans were eager to see Pidcock light up the breakaways, perhaps even deliver a repeat of his stunning Alpe d’Huez win at the 2022 Tour de France. Stage 20, with the iconic Colle delle Finestre, would have been an ideal opportunity. But a radio malfunction meant Pidcock missed the key move. “I was pretty pissed off,” he admitted.
Pidcock ultimately finished 16th overall with a few stage highlights, but no standout results. “The plan was to go all-in for stages that suited me, and see where I could end up in GC.”
Stage 9 had everyone watching closely, as the route revisited the white gravel roads of Strade Bianche a race Pidcock won in 2023 and where he was runner-up to Tadej Pogačar earlier this year. However, a puncture and a crash derailed his chances. “That was probably my best shot. I had some really bad luck that day, but the team was phenomenal they can be proud of how they rode.”
Still, Pidcock wasn’t quite the same explosive force from the start of the season. “I think I peaked a bit early,” he reflected. “I was really motivated at the start of the year even at the January training camp, I was flying. But it’s been a long road since, and I think I lost that last few percent.”
Having switched from INEOS to Q36.5 Pro Cycling during the off-season, Pidcock was eager to step into a leadership role. So far, he’s enjoyed the change: “It’s been amazing just me, with the whole team supporting me. But in the Giro’s final week, when you’re just trying to survive, it’s hard to carry that responsibility when things aren’t going well.”
No Cyclocross This Year
“I needed a proper reset, and it really paid off in the early season,” said the former Cyclocross World Champion. Does he miss racing in the winter? “We’ll see. Cyclocross is brutal. We already race so much on the road, and staying mentally sharp through winter too that’s tough.”
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