Tom Pidcock’s 2025 season with his new team, Q36.5 Pro Cycling, began with high drama as he made his debut at Milano–Sanremo. In a race where Mathieu van der Poel triumphed over Tadej Pogacar and Filippo Ganna in one of the most thrilling editions in recent memory, Pidcock was left contemplating what could have been.
His hopes were dashed by a crash at the base of the Cipressa, leaving him out of position just as the decisive attacks were launched. Reflecting on the setback, he told *Wielerflits*, “I started the climb in a terrible position. After the crash, I was too far back when Pogacar, Van der Poel, and Ganna went. I never saw the front of the race again.”
Despite the disappointment, Milano–Sanremo marked a significant milestone his first Monument with Q36.5 and the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
“I know exactly what challenge I’ve taken on,” he said. “But it’s not just about me it’s about the team.”
His decision to leave INEOS Grenadiers for the smaller, less established Q36.5 team surprised many, especially as he enters what should be his peak years. Some questioned whether now was the time for him to chase major victories.
“A lot of people asked why I moved at this point in my career, when it was time to win,” Pidcock admitted. “But for me, it’s not just about results. It’s about the story I create, the joy I find in my achievements. We’re entertainers—that’s what sport is. Winning with style, earning respect, and making an impact that’s what matters to me.”
He has already made a strong start with his new team, finishing second to Pogacar at Strade Bianche earlier in the season. Yet, while comparisons to Van der Poel, Pogacar, and Evenepoel are common, Pidcock sees himself differently.
“I don’t think you can compare me to them,” he explained. “I’m a different kind of rider. Mountain biking is still my strongest discipline. On the road, I don’t have the sprint or pure power they do. In the Ardennes, I climb better than Wout and Mathieu, but I’m not as strong as them in the classics.”
Pidcock’s versatility is well-documented, he’s an Olympic mountain bike champion, a cyclo-cross world champion, and a stage winner in road racing. But his career path isn’t meant to mirror his rivals’. Rather than chasing victories alone, he wants to build a lasting legacy.
Looking back, Pidcock considers himself fortunate to have avoided major setbacks, though he recalls breaking his collarbone before the Tokyo Olympics as a difficult moment.
“I’ve been lucky not to have a real low point,” he said. “That crash before the Olympics was tough, but I didn’t let it get to me. I just focused on what I needed to do to recover.”
His pragmatic mindset extends to the uncertainty surrounding his race schedule, as Q36.5’s wildcard status means he isn’t guaranteed invitations to major events.
“I knew what I was signing up for. If we don’t get invited, it’s not just me missing out, it’s the whole team.”
While results still matter to him, the way he achieves them is just as important.
“I want to win the biggest races, but I also want to do it in a way that excites people that’s what motivates me.”
His move to Q36.5 has also reignited his passion for the sport, something he felt had faded in his final year with INEOS.
“I feel more like the rider I was when I started,” he said. “Last year was tough, but now I have a fresh start with a new team. I chose to be here, and right now, everything feels great.”
Now living in Andorra with his girlfriend and their two dogs, Pidcock values the separation from cycling that his new home provides.
“After a hard day training or racing, I don’t want to talk about cycling,” he said. “I like hearing about my girlfriend’s work, she’s started her own interior design business and even designed our house. It’s good to have that distraction.”
Pidcock also now shares a team with his younger brother, Joe, and acknowledges the challenges that come with that dynamic.
“I think he finds it harder to reach his potential than I do,” Pidcock admitted. “Maybe I need to be more patient with him. But he has talent, and now he has the opportunity to show it.”
As for his future in multi-discipline racing, Pidcock has no plans to step away.
“I hope to do some mountain bike races in July and compete at the World Championships. With Mathieu coming back, that would be a great battle.”
His winter plans include a return to cyclo-cross, but his road racing schedule remains uncertain.
“For now, my focus is on helping this team grow. If we get a spot at the Vuelta, then that’s where I’ll be.”
With a break from the Tour de France and a fresh start in a new environment, this could be exactly what Pidcock needs. After a turbulent final year with INEOS, 2025 is shaping up as a season of rediscovery for Britain’s most versatile cycling talent.
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