Tom Pidcock made his much-anticipated debut with the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team on the AlUla Tour on Monday, admitting that leaving Ineos Grenadiers throughout the winter was an opportunity for a brand new begin to his profession.
“Things modified, and I felt a giant weight off my shoulders, a giant sense of aid and freedom. It’s actually refreshing and motivating,” Pidcock advised the host broadcaster of the AlUla Tour.
The Yorkshireman is straight away aiming excessive within the Saudi Arabian desert, trying to assist Q36.5 make a splash as race organisers resolve the wildcard invites to the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España and different main races.
Pidcock tried to go for a late time bonus dash within the opening stage on the AlUla Tour, however his lead-out was ultimately overtaken by Fredrik Dversnes (Uno-X Mobility), Jens Reynders (Wagner Bazin WB) and Frank van den Broek Picnic-PostNL) who appeared to have the identical thought. Pidcock completed safely within the peloton as teammate Matteo Moschetti was fourth behind winner Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep).
“It’s a pleasant race to begin,” Pidcock stated pre-race after arriving in Saudi Arabia late on Sunday after a delayed and redirected constitution flight from Europe.
“It’s early within the yr, however I wished to begin earlier. I’ve by no means raced on this a part of the world earlier than, so it is a new expertise.”
The 5 days of racing within the desert embrace three phases for the sprinters. Pidcock is concentrated on the opposite, far tougher phases that can resolve the general normal classification.
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Tuesday’s 157.7km second stage is to Bir Jaydah mountain Wirkah and contains a number of climbs. The ultimate 54km contains two laps of a hilly ending circuit. The ultimate climb to the road is 2.9km lengthy at 9.2%.
Stage 4 ends with the steep ramp as much as the Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid, with the winner more likely to acquire sufficient time to safe total victory. Simon Yates on the stage in 2024 to win total. Eddie Dunbar defends Jayco AlUla’s hopes this yr, however Pidcock is his largest rival.
“I feel they’re going to come collectively,” Pidcock stated when requested if he would goal stage victories or the GC.
“The solely factor that might throw a spanner within the works is the wind. If you miss it, that is the GC gone, in any other case it’s going to be gained on seconds.”
Pidcock has already accepted that Q36.5 is not going to safe a wildcard invitation to the 2025 Tour de France however has different objectives. Q36.5 acquired a wildcard invitation to Paris-Roubaix and hopes others will quickly observe. He appears assured of a experience in Italy in March, and so a return to Strade Bianche, which he gained in 2023 and a shot at Milan-San Remo.
“I’ll experience Ruta del Sol, the Opening Weekend and particularly the Italian block,” he advised the Dutch web site Indeleiderstrui.
Pidcock already appears relaxed Q36.5, completely happy to place the tensions and divorce from Ineos Grenadiers behind him. Little is understood about what occurred after the Tour de France, the impression of the revelations of the Netflix documentary and the staff administration’s choice to not choose Pidcock for Il Lombardia.
He insisted he has fitted in nicely at Q36.5 after the staff welcomed him with open arms.
“It is far, a lot simpler to experience in a brand new staff than I might have imagined. I simply jumped in and tailored to the ambiance immediately. That went easily,” Pidcock stated.
“Because I have not achieved cyclocross, I’ve had a barely completely different preparation. But that is working nicely. I’ve had a very good winter and have not had any disruptions by way of sickness and so forth. I definitely cannot complain, and I’m trying ahead to beginning the season.”
Pidcock will likely be in Saudi Arabia this week as a substitute of making ready for the UCI Cyclocross World Championships. He gained the world title in 2022 within the USA, however opted to not race any cyclocross races this winter.
“To be trustworthy, I did not miss cyclocross in any respect this winter,” Pidcock stated.
‘The incontrovertible fact that I did not miss additionally it is as a result of I did not watch any races. But I do not watch highway races both; the one factor I see on TV is mountain biking.
“I used to be occupied. I modified groups, that is why. Does it imply something for the approaching years? No, subsequent yr I plan to return to cyclocross.”