Tom Pidcock’s 2025 campaign with Q36.5 will continue at the Vuelta a España, where he’s targeting a top-10 finish in the general classification. That choice, however, means he’ll miss a potential head-to-head with Mathieu van der Poel at the Mountain Bike World Championships in September, as the race’s third week overlaps with the MTB event.
Pidcock admitted it was “a shame” to forgo the Worlds, but with Q36.5 receiving a wildcard for a second Grand Tour this season, he opted for the road challenge in Spain. He praised Van der Poel’s achievements, noting the Dutchman’s eight Monument wins and world titles in cyclocross, gravel, and road, while pointing out their different strengths, Pidcock as a lighter climber and Van der Poel as a Classics powerhouse.
Van der Poel has often slotted mountain bike races into his road schedule, though recent attempts have been hindered by crashes or form issues, including a broken wrist at the Nové Město World Cup. While he hasn’t confirmed his MTB Worlds participation, he’s returning to competition at a Dutch criterium after recovering from pneumonia.
For Pidcock, the Vuelta will be his second Grand Tour of the year after placing 16th at the Giro d’Italia. He hopes to improve in Spain, acknowledging that while his time trialling needs work, a top-10 GC finish is realistic. Winning a Grand Tour, he said, remains an immense challenge compared to one-day races.
At 26, Pidcock sees himself entering a crucial stage of his career, aiming to follow the sustained success of riders like Van der Poel and Wout van Aert into his thirties. Fresh off a stage win at the Arctic Race of Norway, he’ll line up in Turin for the Vuelta start on August 23.
Be the first to comment