Tom Pidcock Takes Break from Tour de France, Targets 2026

Tom Pidcock has announced that he will not participate in this year’s Tour de France, opting for a break from the prestigious race with his new Q36.5 team. The 25-year-old cyclist, who left Ineos Grenadiers in December after three successful years with the British team, shared his decision with BBC Sport, stating, “We’ll have a year out from the Tour and try to get to the Tour 2026.” Pidcock expressed satisfaction with the break, adding that he would return to the Tour with “refreshed energy.”

Pidcock’s new team, Swiss-based ProTeam Q36.5, competes in cycling’s second-tier, below the World Tour which includes the 18 teams that automatically receive invitations to major races such as the Grand Tours. Despite this, Pidcock plans to focus on the biggest one-day races in 2024, noting that the team may not have full control over their race calendar but should be able to target the events he wants to participate in. Pidcock famously won one of the Tour de France’s most iconic stages in 2022 with his victory at Alpe d’Huez.

He has also achieved success in one-day classics like Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold and Brabantse Pijl. Additionally, he has won two Olympic gold medals in mountain biking. Q36.5 expects to gain invitations to major races, thanks to Tom Pidcock’s signing and their strong financial backing. Cycling’s points-based system allows teams to be promoted or relegated between the ProTeam and World Tour levels every three years. Pidcock’s 2024 season will begin with the AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia on January 28.