Olympic medals, world titles and classics – but Pidcock's confidant Bogaerts breaks down in tears in AlUla

Tom Pidcock and his Belgian confidant Kurt Bogaerts have won a lot together — Olympic gold medals, world titles in multiple disciplines, and races like the Amstel Gold Race and Strade Bianche. To the outside world, a stage win in the 2.1-level AlUla Tour may not seem like a major milestone, but don’t be mistaken. While speaking with IDLProCyling.com on Mount Wikrah, Bogaerts burst into tears, underscoring the significance of this first — chaotic — victory for Q36.5.

It wasn’t even an unusual question after about three minutes of chatting about the stage itself, if we say so ourselves. "Do you feel relieved?" That was the question, and Bogaerts' non-verbal response said even more than his words. "Absolutely. We have a team that we want to grow. Not just this year, but certainly in the future. And that is..." That was it, at least for a moment. Because right then, it sank in for the Belgian that this was their first win after the switch from INEOS Grenadiers to Q36.5, and for a moment, he fell silent, his eyes welling up behind his sunglasses.

"This is a thank you to the people who believe in us," he continued. "It has been a tough period, but yeah... When you see how Ivan Glasenberg (owner of Q36.5 and Pinarello, ed.) and the entire team believe in Tom… That means a lot. When people like that express their faith and reach out to truly support Tom, that’s special. We always underestimate it, but only one person gets to win. We all work very hard, and this is just a moment of release. Especially when you know that things haven’t always gone smoothly… Tom deserves this more than me, more than anyone else," confidant Bogaerts said sincerely.

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Wealthy businessman Glasenberg expressed faith in Pidcock

Glasenberg is a wealthy South African businessman who made his fortune as CEO of the commodities and mining company Glencore. Now, he is channeling his knowledge, expertise, and wealth into the cycling industry as the owner of Q36.5 and, since last year, Pinarello. "Ivan is someone who is close to the guys and accessible. He has achieved a lot in his life and is now investing in cycling, something he does with great passion. And he passes that passion on."

"Ivan has a strong vision: hard work gets rewarded. And he sees that we work hard," Bogaerts continued. "His vision aligns with ours. Ivan doesn’t shout, but he observes everything closely. And then, in his own way, he provides the right motivation, which is also important for Tom. When someone as successful as he is expresses unconditional support for Tom, you know who you’re doing it for. For Tom, it’s about much more than just riding his bike and collecting a paycheck at the end of the month — that’s not so important to him. Tom wants to inspire, and with Q36.5, we have a partner that knows exactly what they stand for. That could turn into a great story."

"We need to stay calm now and continue working step by step," Bogaerts said, switching to his role as a team director in Saudi Arabia. "Tom wants more than just winning big races. He has now won a stage in the AlUla Tour, which is important for someone who loves to win. We want to grow on the road, after achieving success in multiple disciplines. That’s something we will continue focusing on because Tom enjoys it, but learning on the road is something we truly aspire to. And this victory in the AlUla Tour is an important step in that journey."

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Bogaerts: "Leaving INEOS was not so easy"

Still, why is it that tears welled up on a desolate hill in the desert and that this AlUla victory triggered such deep emotions? "Things have been very hectic," the sports director explained, referring to the turbulent months surrounding the transition from INEOS to Q36.5, which was both finalized and widely discussed. "Of course, you hope things go a bit more smoothly. At INEOS, we achieved everything we wanted to achieve. That’s the reality."

"It’s not that we couldn’t do what we wanted, but the fact is that Tom loves cycling, enjoys multiple disciplines, and doesn’t necessarily want to focus on just one goal." The Tour, was that what INEOS wanted? "Maybe. Tom also really wants to compete in the classics and off-road races, so it was a few things coming together. It was just a matter of different visions and a wider range of ambitions. That’s all. We still have a good relationship with INEOS, and although it took a while, we handled everything properly. That’s not so easy."

"INEOS is also doing good things and building for the future, but there are different roads you can take to get to Rome. Our approach is slightly different," he continued. "Tom is not a typical rider, but he is incredibly professional and works extremely hard. No one can dispute that. I’m not saying this just because I’m close to him. He just really is a proper pro."

So what makes him different? "No one else combines Grand Tour racing with cyclo-cross and mountain biking. Before last year’s Tour, we trained in Crans Montana, but that’s because Tom has been talking about Paris for five years. And he’s still talking about Los Angeles. At some point, that will also come into play. As a Brit, Tom will always make the Olympics a priority. That feeling of the Olympic Games is very important to him. I’ve felt that from day one." But Bogaerts is well aware that 2028 is still a long way off.

"For now, we'll just enjoy this victory, even if it’s not a big one." Maybe not in terms of prestige, but in terms of the emotional weight it carries, it certainly is.

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