Why and what does the signing of Pidcock by Q36.5 mean?

That a great figure in cycling like Tom Pidcock has chosen to switch from a top team like INEOS Grenadiers to a Pro Team, the second category in the world of road cycling, has surprised many, especially those who do not follow the competition in depth. However, when analyzed in depth, it turns out to be a quite coherent move for the British cyclist.

Tom Pidcock arrives at Q36.5 seeking total freedom

If we go back a few months, to the end of the 2024 season, when everything was falling apart in the relationship between Tom Pidcock and INEOS Grenadiers, a situation that became public with the exclusion of the cyclist from the team that would participate in Il Lombadia, many pointed to the cause of this divorce in Pidcock's calendar, which has been prioritizing mountain bike competition, where he is currently the best cyclist in the world, over road cycling, which is the most relevant for his team.

While the situation at INEOS Grenadiers was good, this did not seem to matter, but this year, in which the British team hit rock bottom by achieving only 14 victories, one of the most relevant being Tom Pidcock's victory in the Amstel Gold Race, reproaches have come towards Tom Pidcock who in 2024 prioritized the search for the Olympic gold in XCO in Paris, an objective he achieved in an exciting race and which represents his second medal after the triumph in Tokyo.

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With the signing for Q36.5, Tom Pidcock seems to want to escape the pressure for victories existing in a World Tour category team and be part of a squad that allows him total freedom to design his calendar. A move that has been much easier due to the relationship between Pidcock and Pinarello, a brand that has accompanied him in the years at INEOS Grenadiers and that developed a specific mountain bike under the cyclist's requirements.

Although Q36.5 has Scott as the technical supplier, the bicycles that Tom Pidcock will use in road competitions, it turns out that the team owner, the billionaire Ivan Glasenberg, acquired the majority of the shares of Pinarello last year, which undoubtedly facilitated the conversations with Pidcock and explains that the British will continue to use the Italian brand's bicycles in mountain bike and cyclocross competitions.

Aside from the calendar freedom that Tom Pidcock will have at Q36.5, we are talking about a road team with not much experience yet, with a long way to go but with a clear focus on growth. A squad in which Pidcock will be the undisputed leader in the races he participates in, although he will have to accept that he will not have a team of high level to support him in the races.

The limitations regarding the races in which Q36.5 can participate seem to be the main drawback that Tom Pidcock will face when competing on the road. The Swiss team concluded the season in 7th position in the Pro Tour classification. This means that they depend on invitations from different organizers to be able to participate in World Tour level events.

If we review the 2024 calendar, we see that Q36.5 took part in 18 World Tour races, including some as interesting for Tom Pidcock as the Belgian classics on cobbles, including the Tour of Flanders; the Strade Bianche, Paris-Roubaix, Amstel Gold Race, and Fleche Wallonne, so if that calendar is repeated, this should not be a problem.

Putting all this into perspective and with rumors of the significant salary that Tom Pidcock will receive between Q36.5 and the support of Pinarello, it does not seem like a bad move for Tom Pidcock despite the downgrade in category, especially considering that the lower pressure for results on the road and the calendar freedom will likely result in an improvement in performance.