"There are quite a few stages that could suit me well": Pidcock wants to test himself in La Vuelta 2025

The Q36.5 Pro Cycling team has officially announced its lineup for the 2025 Vuelta a España. This will be their second participation in a grand tour since the team was created, and the Swiss team will be led by Tom Pidcock, who is facing his second major race of the year after leaving a good impression in the past Giro d'Italia.

"I'm curious to see what I can do in the general": Pidcock will lead Q36.5 in a Vuelta a España that he considers ideal for his profile

The Spanish tour starts this Saturday in Italy and will offer a demanding route, with eleven mountain-top finishes, including iconic climbs like Alto del Angliru, La Farrapona, or La Bola del Mundo. A terrain where Pidcock hopes to find his place.

"The route this year is very varied, but still very typical of the Vuelta, with many mountain-top finishes," explained Tom Pidcock.

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"There are quite a few stages that could suit a rider like me, including one in Andorra, very close to where I live. We learned a lot from the Giro, and this time we have been able to prepare thoroughly, with an altitude training camp and the Arctic Race of Norway. I'm curious to see what I can do in the general classification. For that, we have a strong and balanced team, each one bringing their strengths. We have worked well, and I am looking forward to starting with the guys this Saturday in Piedmont."

Pidcock, who was already fifth in several stages of the Giro, returns to a race he knows well, as it was his debut in a grand tour in 2021. At 26 years old, he continues to explore his limits as a three-week cyclist.

Alongside him, names like David de la Cruz stand out, who will be key as support and as a contender for mountain stages. The veteran Spanish rider does not hide how special this race is for him:

"The Vuelta is the most special race of the year for me," confessed De la Cruz. "Here I achieved my first victory as a professional and wore the leader's jersey nine years ago. This race gave me the opportunity to show myself and has been the engine of my career. I have never raced for a Spanish team, but this race feels like home to me. It is a warm and safe feeling. I am grateful to the organizers for giving us this opportunity, it helps the team's growth. I will help Tom as we did in Tirreno, where we worked well as a tandem. He is still exploring his capabilities as a grand tour rider. Nobody knows, not even himself, how far he can go."

The Q36.5 lineup for the Vuelta also includes Xabier Mikel Azparren, Marcel Camprubí, Fabio Christen, Damien Howson, Nick Zukowsky, and David González. Four of them are Spanish, guaranteeing extra support from the public on the national roads.

Team director Alex Sans Vega is also excited about the route, especially the team time trial in Figueres, near his home in Girona:

"It was the first stage I recognized when I saw the route," he comments with a smile. "I know the area very well, and it will be a great spectacle for the fans. It is a mix of fast sections and more technical parts."

About the team's lineup, Sans Vega believes there are reasons to be optimistic:

"I'm curious to see how far Tom can go in the general classification because the route suits him perfectly. He will have Damo (Howson), Zuke (Zukowsky), and Xabier Mikel, as in the Giro. Special mention to David de la Cruz, who brings experience and knows this race like few others. It is also very special to see two riders who started their professional careers with us debut in a grand tour: Fabio and Marcel. The steps they have taken this year are proof of our development vision."

With this mix of experience, youth, and ambition, Q36.5 arrives at the 2025 Vuelta with a desire to be a protagonist. The exam will start this Saturday.