Road bike, mountain bike, cyclocross bike or gravel bike: Thomas Pidock has mastered the entire cycling repertoire. But because the all-rounder obviously has to economise on his strength, the 26-year-old has once again decided not to take part in the Cyclocross World Cup this season. The upcoming World Championships in Hulst/Netherlands (30 January to 1 February) will therefore take place without the 2022 title winner. Just like last year, when Pidcock also skipped the cyclocross season after switching to the second-tier Q36.5 team.
Instead, Pidcock is already focussing fully on the classic season. As his racing team announced, the Briton's provisional race plans are centred on the Ardennes Triple. According to the Pinarello Q36.5 team, "Pidders" has marked Liège-Bastogne-Liège (26 April) in particular on his calendar. Pidcock is still waiting for a success in one of the five cycling monuments. His best result to date in one of the world's most important one-day races was three years ago: in Liège in 2023, he was beaten by Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel.
In addition to Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Pidcock will also start at the Amstel Gold Race (19 April) and the Flèche Wallonne (22 April). Before that, the 26-year-old's programme also includes important one-day races such as Strade Bianche (7 March) and Milan-San Remo (21 March). His season debut will be Pidock, who is back on Pinarello after a change of supplier, in Spain. After the Tour of Murcia (13/14 February) and the Clasica Jaén (16 February), he heads to the Tour of Andalusia (18-22 February). He finished the five-day stage race in third place overall last year. Pidock has already entered his name on the winners' lists at the Amstel Gold Race (2024) and Strade Bianche (2023).
| Racing programme by Thomas Pidcock | Date |
| Tour of Murcia | 13/14 February |
| Clásica Jaén | 16 February |
| Tour of Andalusia | 18 to 22 February |
| Omloop Het Nieuwsblad | 28 February |
| Strade Bianche | 7 March |
| Milan-Turin | 18 March |
| Milan-Sanremo | 21 March |
| Tour of Catalonia | 23 to 29 March |
| Arrow of Brabant | 17 April |
| Amstel Gold Race | 19 April |
| Fléche Wallonne | 22 April |
| Liège-Bastogne-Liège | 26 April |
"My programme remains pretty much the same as in previous years. But I've added a few new races to provide some variety," Pidcock is quoted as saying in his racing team's press release. It is not yet known what will happen after Liège-Bastogne-Liège. As a top 3 team from the second-tier Pro Series, Q36.5 has a starting place in the Tour de France (4 to 26 July) safe.
Incidentally, it is not out of the question that the former cyclocross world champion will one day be back in cyclocross. "It's quite possible that Tom will be back in cyclocross next season," his coach Kurt Bogaerts told Belgian broadcaster "Sporza". The Belgian pointed to his protégé's heavy workload in the previous year as the reason for his renewed abstinence in 2025/26. Pidcock had more than 80 race days in his legs in 2025 due to his starts in road and MTB events. The blessing of an all-rounder can also be a curse.
Julian Schultz
Editor
