Tom Pidcock’s move away from Ineos Grenadiers has given him a new sense of freedom and revitalization in his cycling career. After a difficult final season with Ineos, the Olympic gold medallist has joined the Swiss-based Q36.5 team, a step that he describes as being “let off the lead.”
Pidcock burst onto the professional road cycling scene with his breathtaking descent of the Col du Galibier and stage win atop Alpe d’Huez in the 2022 Tour de France. At the time, he was seen as a future yellow jersey contender. However, just two years later, his relationship with Ineos had deteriorated. He became frustrated with his role in the team, and his enthusiasm for the Tour faded, calling it “boring” and “crap.” His struggles were evident even after successfully defending his Olympic mountain bike title in Paris last summer.
His departure from Ineos was not a smooth one. By late 2023, tensions with management had grown, and his portrayal in a Netflix documentary about the Tour de France added to the friction. He felt the series misrepresented him, particularly in an episode where he was shown saying: “My opinion is the only one that matters.” The situation culminated in him being dropped from the Ineos lineup just before the final Classic of 2024, Il Lombardia.
Despite this challenging period, Pidcock has embraced a fresh start with Q36.5, a team that races at a level below the World Tour. He has already found success, winning the AlUla Tour and stages at the Vuelta a Andalucía. He describes the move as freeing, saying he now has “new interest, life, and energy” in cycling. Unlike his time at Ineos, where he felt constrained by the team’s goals and sponsor expectations, he now has the freedom to pursue his own ambitions.
He had the opportunity to join one of the world’s biggest teams but chose Q36.5 instead. He valued the belief they had in him and preferred an environment where he could set his own targets rather than living by someone else’s. There are rumors that his contract with Q36.5 has placed him among the highest earners in professional cycling, potentially rivaling the top salaries in the sport.
One of the unexpected benefits of his move is missing the Tour de France. Since Q36.5 is not a World Tour team, they do not have automatic entry into the race. Pidcock sees this as a positive, as he had lost his passion for the Tour in recent years. He acknowledges that it is an incredible race that creates great stories but says that being an average rider in the Tour is not inspiring.
His younger brother, Joey, has also joined Q36.5. Recently diagnosed with ADHD, Joey described his experience as suddenly feeling like he was no longer “walking through three-feet deep water.” Pidcock was deeply moved by his brother’s openness and hopes that the new team will provide him with stability to showcase his potential.
While Pidcock has not been tested for ADHD himself, he suspects he may have it but does not feel it affects his performance in the same way. He is content with where he is mentally and physically, and his fresh start with Q36.5 has reignited his passion for racing.
