The writing on the wall? After “diselection” for Lombardy, a break between Pidcock and Ineos seems inevitable – sporza.be

“Just when everything was going well after the turbulent end of the year I am abandoned for Lombardy tomorrow. I am in great shape and was really looking forward to it! Good luck to the boys, looks like winter is starting early this year. Thank you so much for everyone’s support, even in these difficult times.”

The message is from Tom Pidcockwho, to his own surprise, was suddenly removed from the selection of Ineos Grenadiers selected for the Lombardy Tour.

And so the bubbling conflict between the rider and his team is once again openly on the table. In recent months, the British landlord has been critical of the activities of Ineos Grenadiers – where he is still under contract until 2027.

But many pieces of the puzzle indicate that the marriage between Tom Pidcock and the British establishment is on its last legs.

“I have too many other things to think about at Ineos, which means I can focus on smaller races,” a disgruntled Pidcock recently told British website Sticky Bottle.

“As a result, I can no longer perform better,” he said.

The fact that Ineos Grenadiers also let 2 important figures leave has a place.
Performance engineer Dan Bigham – called a genius by the Ineos entourage – seeks refuge at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.

Ineos icon Luke Rowe was offered too little to strengthen the team’s management and will join the Decathlon-AG2R team car next season.

Pidcock’s cry for help and dissatisfaction will not fall on deaf ears among other teams.

The 25-year-old Briton was linked with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe for a long time. Partly because Pidcock rides with a Red Bull helmet. But in the last few weeks, another team – surprisingly – has emerged as a possible main destination: Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

Crashing, as a radio platoon whispers that the Swiss team is in difficult financial waters. It is very difficult to buy a current contract (of 3 years) from a rider of the Pidcock type.

In addition, Q36.5 is a sure thing about taking part in the Tour de France, while Pidcock dreams of a podium place in La Grande Boucle.

The truth is that the world and Olympic mountain bike champion wants to focus more on the road from next season.

If Ineos addresses Pidcock’s criticism and, among other things, can present him with an ambitious road program (including leadership in the Tour), we may still see him in the Grenadiers shirt in next year, but that arrangement now seems to have gone further than ever.