Pinarello-Q36.5 counts on Tom Pidcock in first ever Tour de France: "It is an honor"

For Pinarello-Q36.5, 2026 is a special year. The ambitious Swiss team is preparing for its very first participation in the Tour de France. The team is counting on its great leader, Tom Pidcock, for their debut in La Grande Boucle.

The 26-year-old Brit—who has already started the Tour three times—will prepare himself after a busy early season for the most important race on the cycling calendar. "The Tour de France is the biggest cycling race in the world. It’s an honor to ride there and to try to perform as best as possible," Pidcock said in a press release. "I think it’s an exciting challenge for us as a team to be in top form for it."

Ups and downs
"I really find it special that we’re going to the Tour de France this year. We earned our spot as a team through our performances last year. That gives us the right to be there, and no one can take that away from us. It’s a fantastic opportunity. I’ve had ups and downs in the Tour de France over the past years. So it’s great now, with my new team, to carve out my own place."

"The Tour is the biggest stage. That naturally brings a lot of pressure, but I think the team helps me to carry all of that. Personally, I think my biggest goal is to go there and enjoy the suffering, the intensity of the race, and the media attention. If all that is possible, the results will follow naturally."

Pidcock sees participating in the Tour as a milestone for his team. "We’re a team in development. Riding the Tour de France fits into that picture. Of course, we want to participate every year in the Tour de France and compete for victory. So yes, it’s another step in the right direction."