While pro rider team transfer news isn’t often big on our tech-focused priority list, Tom Pidcock’s move to Q36.5 Pro Cycling for the next three years brought up an interesting question.
Would he now race on all of the Scott bikes of Q36.5? Or would he somehow still race on those all-new off-road bikes that Pinarello developed especially for the multidisciplinary talent over the last few years while he raced with the INEOS Grenadiers team?
The simple answer is… why not both?
Tom Pidcock to join Q36.5 Pro Cycling and race Scott road bikes
We found out on Friday that Tom Pidcock signed with Q36.5 Pro Cycling to race for the next few years on the two-year-old Swiss UCI Pro Team. A team that is pretty much road-only as far as I know (quite similar to Ineos a few years ago, in fact). And then promptly, Scott Sports sent out a press release saying they were excited to see the 25-year-old Englishman racing on their bikes next year.
But that Friday PR burst had some curiously vague statements…
Q36.5 referred to Pidcock as “Double Olympic Champion” as their highlight, but they only mentioned a couple of road Classics. And they failed to utter any of the words: cyclocross, cross-country, or mountain bike… even though that is where Pidcock won his 2 World Championships and 2 Olympic Gold medals over the past few years.
Also, Scott’s co-CEO Pascal Ducrot was only a bit clearer, stating that they were “delighted that Tom Pidcock will be joining the team, and will be riding SCOTT road bikes and Syncros components from 2025.” Elaborating just a bit more detail, Scott reiterated that the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team will ride their Foil RC, Plasma RC TT & all-new ultralight Addict RC road bikes in competition in 2025. No mention of anything off-road since that’s out of the team’s racing scope up to now.
So far, Q36.5 hasn’t shown any off-road ambitions, so Scott have not really had any reason to expand on that list. But Pidcock is clearly a different story, right?
Pidcock will actually race Scott AND Pinarello bikes in 2025
Well, today Pinarello has cleared up the matter a bit more, announcing that the “multiple world and Olympic champion [will] continue riding Pinarello’s flagship off-road bikes for the next three years.” The keywords there being ‘off-road‘ bikes.
Although team and sponsor negotiations must have been a bit more complicated than usual, it makes sense that Q36.5 & Scott were willing to make some concessions to lock in their new star rider, as they look to boost their young team and move up in the ranks of the peloton. Pidcock has shown promise on the road after all, with a 2022 Tour stage win up Alpe d’Huez, Amstel Gold & Strade Bianche.
Back off-road though, Pidcock did after all work closely with Pinarello to develop 2 completely new off-road bikes for the Italian bike maker while racing for Ineos. In fact, when he started with Ineos, he was racing on BMC bikes with blacked-out logos to keep those sponsors happy. But it looks like things might be a bit more transparent next year.
First, Pinarello created an all-new Crossista F cyclocross bike just for Pidcock. And then he proceeded to win the World Championship on it, right away.
Next, Pinarello developed an all-new Dogma XC full-suspension mountain bike just for Pidcock (and a companion XC hardtail for Ineos teammate Pauline Ferrand-Prévot). And again, Pidcock immediately rode his new cross-country bike to another World Championship title, then followed it up with an Olympic Gold medal the next summer.
He wasn’t specifically involved in their Grevil F, as far as I remember. But Pinarello notes that if Pidcock races gravel in the new 3 years, that will be his weapon of choice.
Fausto Pinarello told me in person last spring when I was test riding the new Dogma XC, that his team put a lot of time and work into developing new off-road bikes together with Tom Pidcock. So, it’s interesting to hear that this off-road bike development partnership will apparently continue, even after Pidcock joins a team sponsored by another road bike maker.
And so I’ll be paying special attention to how the new team and these two competing bike makers work it all out over the next few race seasons across road, gravel, cyclocross, and mountain bike racing. It’s certainly uncommon to see a professional athlete racing 2 different bike brands in different disciplines, when their team bike sponsor already makes absolutely top-tier race bikes across all categories.
But, I guess Tom Pidcock is an unconventional cyclist, so maybe I should be so surprised.
Q36-5ProCycling.com, Scott-Sports.com, AND Pinarello.com
Full PR texts below…
Double Olympic Champion Tom Pidcock Joins Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is proud to welcome Tom Pidcock, as he embarks on an exciting new chapter in his career. Known for his versatility and relentless drive, the 25-year-old Brit is set to bring his passion, ambition, and world-class talent to the team as they take on new challenges together.
Pidcock’s decision to join Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team reflects the shared vision for growth and the freedom to pursue big objectives. Having already claimed five professional road victories, including the illustrious Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold Race, Pidcock is driven to reach even greater heights as he approaches the peak of his career.
“This isn’t just a change of jersey; it’s the start of something special,” said Pidcock. “The chance to work with a team that’s growing, with incredible partners and brands, is something that motivates me. I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together.”
For Pidcock, this new start is not just about personal ambition; it is also about being part of a mission to elevate the team and its partners to new heights. “I know the challenge that we face getting to where we want to be but it’s an adventure and I’m excited for it,” he added.
Pidcock’s decision reflects the alignment of his personal goals with the team’s innovative and forward-thinking approach.
“We are honoured to welcome Tom Pidcock to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team,” said Team Manager Doug Ryder. “Tom is a true embodiment of passion and competitive spirit, qualities that resonate deeply with our team’s values. His extraordinary talent, both on and off the bike, and his proven ability to win at the WorldTour level make him a game-changing addition to our roster. We look forward to writing this next chapter together.”
Pidcock’s arrival signals an exciting new era for Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and our partners, with plans to compete more consistently at the highest level and make its mark on the world of cycling.
“With his revolutionary, multi-disciplinary approach that has versatility at its heart, Tom is the perfect embodiment of our own approach to product development,” added Luigi Bergamo, Chairperson of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, Founder, and R&D Director of Q36.5. “Having Tom as part of the team offers us the opportunity not just to compete for victory at the world’s most prestigious races but also to continue to push the very boundaries of Q36.5’s vision of what the future of performance cycling clothing can be. I can’t wait to send him his first pair of Dottore bib shorts and hear what he thinks!”
Looking to take on new challenges, Pidcock is ready to embrace the opportunities ahead. “I love racing my bike, and I’m looking forward to making that a priority. Joining a team that believes in me and shares my vision of success makes this an incredibly important step in my career. Let’s make it happen.”
Tom Pidcock has signed a 3-year contract and will join the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team squad in the upcoming pre-season training camp, which is set to take place in Calpe, Spain in January.
Tom Pidcock Joins Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
SCOTT-sponsored Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is proud to welcome Tom Pidcock, as he embarks on an exciting new chapter in his career. Known for his versatility and relentless drive, the 25-year-old Brit is set to bring his passion, ambition, and world-class talent to the team as they take on new challenges together.
Pidcock’s decision to join Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team reflects the shared vision for growth and the freedom to pursue big objectives. Having already claimed five professional road victories, including the illustrious Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold Race, Pidcock is driven to reach even greater heights as he approaches the peak of his career.
“This isn’t just a change of jersey; it’s the start of something special,” said Pidcock. “The chance to work with a team that’s growing, with incredible partners and brands, is something that motivates me. I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together.”
For Pidcock, this new start is not just about personal ambition; it is also about being part of a mission to elevate the team and its partners to new heights. “I know the challenge that we face getting to where we want to be but it’s an adventure and I’m excited for it,” he added.
Pidcock’s decision reflects the alignment of his personal goals with the team’s innovative and forward-thinking approach.
“We are honoured to welcome Tom Pidcock to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. Tom is a true embodiment of passion and competitive spirit, qualities that resonate deeply with our team’s values. His extraordinary talent, both on and off the bike, and his proven ability to win at the WorldTour level make him a game-changing addition to our roster. We look forward to writing this next chapter together.” – Doug Ryder, Team Manager, Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
Pidcock’s arrival signals an exciting new era for Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and its partners, with plans to compete more consistently at the highest level and make its mark on the world of cycling.
“We have been partnered with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team since the beginning, and together we have built an incredible platform for racing and performance at the highest level. We trust in the leadership of this team and their fantastic commitment to achieving great results together. We are delighted that Tom Pidcock will be joining the team, and will be riding SCOTT road bikes and Syncros components from 2025.” – Pascal Ducrot, co-CEO, SCOTT Sports
Tom Pidcock has signed a 3-year contract and will join the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team squad in the upcoming pre-season training camp, which is set to take place in Calpe, Spain in January.
SCOTT Sports continues as a committed sponsor of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. For the 2025 season, the team will ride SCOTT road bikes and Syncros components, including with the Foil RC, Plasma RC TT and all-new Addict RC bikes.
Tom Pidcock to Remain Part of the Pinarello Family
Multiple world and Olympic champion to continue riding Pinarello’s flagship off-road bikes for the next three years
Pinarello is pleased to confirm Tom Pidcock will continue riding and helping to develop its flagship off-road bikes for the next three years following his move from INEOS Grenadiers to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.
Pidcock has enjoyed huge success on Pinarello’s off-road range over the last four years, winning world and Olympic cross country mountain bike titles on the Dogma XC. That bike was developed in both hard and softail models in the space of six months, specifically for him and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who also went on to achieve world and Olympic success.
The 25-year-old British athlete also triumphed on the Crossista F at the 2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, and will have that bike at his disposal again moving forwards, along with the Grevil F if he chooses to compete in any gravel competitions. The only occasions he will not compete on a Pinarello will be during road events.
Pinarello President Fausto Pinarello said: “We’re thrilled to confirm Tom will continue racing on our cyclo-cross, cross country mountain bike and gravel bikes. He is an amazing rider with phenomenal technical skills and it’s been a pleasure working with him on the Crossista and Dogma XC, both models in segments where we hadn’t had bikes for a long time.
“Tom is a rider who knows what he wants. His unwavering pursuit of excellence has challenged us a lot and enabled us to produce three incredible frames which he’s ridden to success on the grandest stages in the sport. We are delighted to keep this successful collaboration alive.”
Tom Pidcock said: “Working with Fausto and the team at Pinarello over the past four years has been a privilege, and a really enjoyable experience. I am so happy I get to stay working with them on everything off-road moving forwards.“
“So far, we have developed three cyclo-cross and XC MTB frames together and all of them exceeded expectations from the moment I sat on them, I could not have asked for more. I felt so confident on them that I was able to race and win after the first couple of rides.“
“To me, our relationship feels more like a partnership than a sponsorship. I’m looking forward to the next three years of racing and developing more great bikes with Pinarello.“
