Tom Pidcock’s attention to detail is “next level” according to his new team boss Doug Ryder.
The British rider, 25, signed for the Swiss Q36.5 team earlier this month after leaving Ineos Grenadiers following three years with the British team.
“It’s a game changer for us,” said Ryder, “giving him full leadership, trust, and faith to try and support his goals and ambitions.”
Pidcock made his name in road cycling by winning stage 12 of the 2022 Tour de France up to Alpe d’Huez, in which he thrilled fans with descending speeds of nearly 100km/h.
“His attention to detail is next level,” added Ryder. “He focuses on every millimetre; on the bike positioning and the bike set-up, to the nutrition, to the race programme, to the coaching.
“He met with all the leaders in our team… the head coach, the head nutritionist, the head doctor, the head of performance and was challenging and asking questions.”
Pidcock also won the Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold one-day classics in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
But he was dropped from Ineos’ line-up near the end of the 2024 season, with team-mate Geraint Thomas saying the “the people around Tom don’t help”.
Ryder was impressed with Pidcock’s work ethic when training with him for the first time at an impromptu camp in Spain instigated by the double Olympic mountain bike champion.
“He’s really, really wants to get the whole team on board with him, which I haven’t seen in some big leaders in the past,” Ryder said.
“He’s such a good leader and motivator, and it has really impressed our riders.”
Pidcock’s team compete in the second-tier ProTour series, below road cycling’s World Tour. But the team expect to get wildcard entries to many of the one-day races during the 2025 World Tour season.
The team have existed under several different guises over the years under Ryder’s management, including as Team Dimension Data with Mark Cavendish on board. They have substantial investment from mining magnate and cycling fan Ivan Glasenberg, and a number of high-profile brands.
With Pidcock, they are also expecting to qualify for some, or all, of the sport’s three three-week Grand Tours, including the Tour de France.
The 2025 Road World Championships will also be a focus for Pidcock as he looks to win the rainbow bands on the road to add to his cyclocross and mountain bike accolades.