Pidcock’s team could reach the WorldTour ahead of schedule as it eyes a possible license for next year

The Pinarello Q36.5 does not necessarily want to wait until 2029 to become a WorldTour team. After a season in which it finished ahead of several top-tier structures, its general manager, Doug Ryder, has confirmed that they would be willing to seize an opportunity for early promotion. The administrative situation of some teams, especially that of Picnic PostNL, could open an unexpected scenario for 2027.

Pinarello Q36.5 would not hesitate to acquire a WorldTour license if it becomes available ahead of schedule

The growth of Pinarello Q36.5 in recent years has turned Tom Pidcock's team into one of the most ambitious projects in the international peloton. In 2026, it moved from 19th to 12th place in the UCI team ranking, finishing ahead of seven WorldTour teams.

Its sporting evolution is also reflected in a roster that will continue to strengthen in 2027 with riders like Giulio Ciccone and Mauro Schmid. A growth strategy that we already analyzed when reviewing Pidcock's rise in the UCI ranking and the team's signings for the next season.

So far, the roadmap of the Swiss structure pointed to obtaining a WorldTour license in 2029, coinciding with the start of the next UCI triennial cycle. However, Doug Ryder has made it clear that they do not rule out advancing those timelines.

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In an interview granted to the Domestique Hotseat program, Ryder acknowledged that they would accept the possibility of joining the top tier if a vacancy arose.

"If the opportunity presented itself, of course we would accept it. Without a doubt", assured the team leader, although he explained that they would first need to analyze the situation from management.

The situation of Picnic PostNL could open an unexpected opportunity

The main focus is on Picnic PostNL, whose continuity in the top tier depends on completing the registration process and meeting certain financial conditions set by the UCI.

As we reported when the UCI published its first list of teams for 2027, both Picnic PostNL and Jayco AlUla appeared among the structures that had not yet submitted all the necessary documentation.

In the case of Picnic PostNL, the delay seems to be partly related to the bankruptcy of the Accell group, owner of Lapierre and one of its key sponsors.

The situation of the Dutch team is particularly delicate because, when the licenses for the 2026-2028 cycle were granted, the UCI limited its initial authorization to a single season and conditioned its extension on meeting financial requirements.

However, Picnic PostNL maintains its intention to continue in the WorldTour, and the absence of documentation in the first deadline does not mean it has lost its license. The UCI will publish the final list of registered teams on December 8.

The early promotion does not solely depend on Pinarello Q36.5

Although Ryder has shown his willingness to take advantage of a possible vacancy, there is a significant administrative obstacle.

Pinarello Q36.5 applied for a WorldTour license for the cycle starting in 2026, but its application was rejected based on sporting criteria. For 2027, however, it has submitted its documentation as a ProTeam, so it could not automatically take the place of another team if it were to disappear from the top tier.

Moreover, the UCI could choose not to award a potential vacant license until the next cycle, a possibility that Ryder himself considers.

Therefore, a team not completing its registration would not necessarily mean the immediate promotion of the Swiss formation.

What would Pidcock's team gain by becoming WorldTour?

Currently, the results of Pinarello Q36.5 already guarantee it the right to receive invitations for the major races on the WorldTour calendar in 2027, including the three Grand Tours.

However, for Ryder, the advantages of competing with a first division license go far beyond invitations.

The leader believes that belonging to the WorldTour facilitates long-term planning, improves the ability to recruit riders, and provides greater economic and sporting stability.

He also argues that it allows for the reduction of certain operational costs by avoiding last-minute decisions related to the calendar and participation in races.

Ryder knows well the differences between both categories. He previously led the Dimension Data structure, which entered the WorldTour in 2016 and ended up losing its first division status at the end of 2021, when it competed under the name Qhubeka NextHash.

For now, Pinarello Q36.5 maintains its sports project and the goal of securing a WorldTour spot in 2029. But the statements from its director confirm that if an opportunity arises sooner, Tom Pidcock's team is willing to seriously consider it.