Tom Pidcock’s anticipated switch to Q36.5 is off, not less than for the second, with a well-informed supply telling Cyclingnews that the British rider will now keep at Ineos Grenadiers and so respect his present contract that runs till the tip of 2027.
Dan Benson first reported the information that Pidcock’s switch may very well be off by way of his Substack account. Now Cyclingnews has heard comparable info and obtained additional particulars, together with different employees adjustments and turmoil at Ineos Grenadiers that might emerge within the coming days.
“He stays at Ineos” a trusted supply advised Cyclingnews, suggesting Pidcock and Ineos Grenadiers can by some means now discover a option to work collectively in 2025, regardless of their variations.
Pidcock is certainly one of Ineos Grenadiers crew leaders however his function and relationship with the crew administration has worsened considerably in the summertime of 2024.
He gained the Amstel Gold Race and was an in depth second on the gravel stage of the Tour de France however then examined constructive for COVID-19. He recovered to once more win the gold medal within the Olympic mountain bike occasion however then suffered a concussion in a Tour of Britain crash.
Pidcock advised he was “portrayed because the dangerous man” within the Netflix Tour de France documentary however performed down the affect of the sudden removing of Steve Cummings because the crew’s lead director sportif on the Tour de France. But on the Paris Olympics Pidcock admitted he was “mentally a bit frazzled” after hypothesis about his future at Ineos Grenadiers.
When Pidcock was instantly ‘deselected’ from the Ineos Grenadiers line-up for Il Lombardia by way of a senior administration choice, Pidcock appeared destined to depart the crew, with Q36.5 his anticipated vacation spot after different choices, together with with Visma-Lease a Bike, fell via.
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Ineos Grenadiers had appeared able to pay part of Pidcock’s estimated 3.5 million Euro wage to make sure he left the crew however a deal had nonetheless to be thrashed out earlier than the UCI accredited the switch.
Within the meantime, negotiations between his agent Andrew McQuaid and Ineos Grenadiers crew administration a few mutual termination of Pidcock’s contract at Ineos Grenadiers failed to achieve a conclusion.
Pidcock was initially on vacation in Italy final week however then travelled elsewhere, with out revealing his vacation vacation spot or updating his social media. Whereas away, his future appeared to sway from a transfer to Q36.5 again to Ineos Grenadiers.
It’s unclear if and the way Pidcock’s relationship and management function with Ineos Grenadiers could be restored in 2025. Ineos Grenadiers are on account of collect in Britain in early November for an low season get-together. Geraint Thomas, Egan Bernal and Carlos Rodriguez stay as crew leaders, with Pidcock often main the crew within the classics after which additionally driving the Tour de France.
“I do not really know what has gone on, all I do know is, when the highest-paid rider in your crew… it is clearly a extremely crap state of affairs,” Geraint Thomas mentioned throughout an Instagram takeover for Eurosport throughout Il Lombardia.
“He isn’t glad, the crew’s not glad. How has it obtained thus far? I do not know. People who find themselves round Tom I do not suppose assist.”
McQuaid and Ineos Grenadiers most well-liked to not remark about Pidcock’s future when contacted by Cyclingnews. Ineos Grenadiers highlighted that Pidcock was ‘below contract’ and refused to touch upon what they described as ‘hypothesis’.
Nevertheless, Cyclingnews understands that Pidcock’s was in the marketplace through the summer time. One supply advised Cyclingnews that talks with Visma-Lease a Bike ended after the crew refused to simply accept any of Pidcock’s entourage as a part of a deal. Cyclingnews understands that Tudor have been by no means involved in signing Pidcock after they secured Julian Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi.
Q36.5 appeared quietly assured of signing Pidcock in current weeks, within the hope of boosting the crew’s profile in 2025. They’ve closed down their growth crew to give attention to the ProTeam however billionaire crew proprietor Ivan Glasenberg was reportedly prepared to spice up the Q36.5 finances to assist the ProTeam supervisor Doug Ryder signal Pidcock.
Glasenberg additionally owns 80% of Pinarello however was prepared to simply accept that Pidcock raced on Scott bikes at Q36.5 in 2025.
Q36.5 have did not safe wild card invites to the Grand Excursions however Pidcock’s arrival may give them an opportunity of driving the Giro d’Italia in 2025.
Now these hopes and switch negotiations appear over. At the very least for now.
Ineos may attempt to rebuild their relationship with Pidcock and set up agreed targets with the Yorkshirman or settle for that they’re higher off with out him and conform to a mutual termination of Pidcock’s contract.
The UCI’s closing ‘registration interval’ for the 2025 season ends on December 31.
