Tom Pidcock to Leave Ineos Grenadiers After 4 Years

Tom Pidcock, Great Britain’s 25-year-old cycling star, will leave Ineos Grenadiers at the end of the season despite signing a five-year contract in 2022. Pidcock has been with the team since 2021 and achieved notable success including winning the Olympic mountain bike gold in Paris this year. His accomplishments with Ineos include a stage win at the 2022 Tour de France and victories in prestigious one-day races like Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold Race.

However, Pidcock struggled at this year’s Tour de France and faced speculation about his relationship with the team’s management. In October, Pidcock revealed he had been “deselected” for the Giro di Lombardia, reflecting tensions within the team. In response to his departure, he expressed gratitude for the team’s support and memories, saying, “When one door closes another opens.” Ineos Grenadiers CEO John Allert praised Pidcock’s contributions, highlighting the memorable moments they shared.

He acknowledged Pidcock’s future goals and noted that the split allows both parties to pursue their ambitions with clarity. Pidcock’s departure marks a shift from Ineos’s tradition of focusing on Tour de France victories. While Ineos targeted Pidcock as a future star, capable of challenging for the overall yellow jersey, his strengths have proven to lie in one-day classics and mountain biking, rather than stage races.

As Tom Pidcock looks to further his career elsewhere, Ineos continues to seek a rider who can challenge Tadej Pogacar, the reigning Tour de France champion, to regain their dominance in the sport. Pidcock will likely continue to win major races but his departure highlights a divergence in goals between him and the team.