Mega-transfer in the making?: Pidcock case keeps cycling world on tenterhooks

What happened?

The Thomas Pidcock case, one of the biggest stars on the cycling scene, began to gather pace last Friday ahead of the Tour of Lombardy. Pidcock was considered one of the favourites in the run-up to the race after impressively proving that he is in good shape with second place behind Tadej Pogacar at the Giro dell'Emilia the previous weekend. So far, so good. Pidcock was also on the provisional start list for the last cycling monument of the year. But events came thick and fast on Friday. Initially, journalists and fans were astonished to discover that Pidcock had been withdrawn from the line-up by his team. A short time later, the Olympic mountain bike champion took to Instagram.

"After things took a turn for the better following a turbulent end to the year, I've been cancelled for the Tour of Lombardy tomorrow," Pidcock wrote. "I'm in great form and was really looking forward to it. Good luck to the guys. The season break starts early. Thanks to everyone for the support - even in difficult times."

Although Ineos' management subsequently made a statement, it remains tight-lipped. Towards Cyclingnews Zak Dempster, one of the sporting directors at Ineos Grenadiers, admitted that the situation looked "strange" and that the decision was not a sporting one, but one that came from the management and that they had the right to put the team on the grid that best suited them. "We have a process where we have a long list of riders and then the final seven names that go on the list - that can be decided by performance. In this case, it was a management decision."

Geraint Thomas on the situation of Thomas Pidcock

Even his own team-mates are in the dark about Pidcock's situation. In a social media conversation between Geraint Thomas and Laurens De Plus, which Eurosport broadcast on Instagram Thomas commented on Pidcock's short-term non-nomination: "I don't know what's going on," said the 2018 Tour de France winner. "It's obviously a shitty situation. He's not happy, the team's not happy. How did it get this far? I don't know," Thomas continued in the conversation with his team-mate. "I don't think the people around Tom are helping."

It's obviously a shitty situation. - Geraint Thomas

"He had a great chance to show what he can do today. I saw that Zak (Dempster) said it was a management decision, not a performance decision. I really don't know anything about it. We are just drivers. What do we know about management? Anyway, it's just not good. All the bullshit aside, he's a great talent."

What's next for Thomas Pidcock?

There are increasing signs that Pidcock could leave Ineos Grenadiers. The trail seems to be leading towards Switzerland, to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. The two experienced cycling journalists Daniel Friebe and Ciro Scognamiglio from the "Cycling Podcast" first reported on this. Now Daniel Benson, who specialises in cycling transfers, writes that the Swiss Pro Team (second division of cycling) is supposedly going "all-in" with regard to a possible signing of Pidcock.

What's behind the speculation about Q36.5?

It would be a transfer that would make sense from the point of view of the team and its environment. Ivan Glasenberg, who has built up a fortune worth billions with the commodities group Glencore, holds shares in the clothing company Q36.5 and is also involved in Team Q36.5. The super-rich man is also rumoured to have bought the Pinarello bike brand in 2023. Pidcock's Ineos Grenadiers team currently rides Pinarello racing bikes. The all-round star would therefore be the missing piece of the puzzle that would catapult Glasenberg's cycling empire into completely different spheres of public perception. However, the Q36.5 team itself is currently riding Scott racing bikes. If Pidcock were to bring Pinarello with him, a solution would have to be found. Q36.5 would also have to come up with a transfer fee and a large salary for Pidcock, whose contract with Ineos runs until 2027, as the Briton is one of the most expensive riders in the world. Top earners in cycling.

For Q36.5, the British superstar could be the ticket to the really big races. Pidcock's current employer Ineos Grenadiers, on the other hand, is once again not looking good in the current situation. Long gone are the days when the team dominated the Tour de France almost at will under the name Sky - We already analysed the team's problems in detail at the beginning of the year on TOUR. Most recently, aerodynamics specialist Dan Bigham, another key figure in the team, left for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.