Tom Pidcock returns to MTB this weekend, he is confirmed for the XCO World Cup in Andorra

The current Olympic cross-country champion, Tom Pidcock, will return to compete in mountain bike this weekend at the XCO World Cup in Pal Arinsal (Andorra). It will be his first appearance in the discipline with his new team, Q36.5, and he is expected to compete on the Pinarello Dogma XC that he helped develop himself.

Tom Pidcock returns to MTB at the Andorra World Cup after his Olympic gold in Paris

The British rider, who resides in Andorra and is part of the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team this year after leaving the Ineos Grenadiers, will only compete in the Sunday race (XCO), as his current UCI ranking does not allow him to participate in the Short Track (XCC) event on Friday.

25-year-old Pidcock focused on his Olympic goal last season: the Paris 2024 Games, where he successfully defended his XCO gold, adding his second Olympic title after Tokyo 2020. To prepare for his golden moment, he only participated in two rounds of the World Cup in 2024, but made an impact: he achieved the XCC-XCO double in Crans-Montana (Switzerland), marking his second victory in a Short Track World Cup and the seventh in Olympic format.

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This year, his calendar has been very different. He started strong on the road, winning the overall classification and points classification of the AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia. However, the spring did not bring the expected results in the classics, and he finished within the top 20 in the Giro d'Italia without achieving victories. Nevertheless, he remains one of the most versatile riders in the world peloton.

Pidcock has confirmed that his calendar for the rest of the year includes La Vuelta a España, which will prevent him from competing in the MTB World Championship (Valais).

Although this weekend in Andorra he will start from rear positions on the grid due to his lack of UCI points, the British rider should never be ruled out as a contender for everything. His ability to climb positions, his knowledge of the circuit, and his track record in major events make him one of the focal points of the weekend in Pal Arinsal.