Pidcock skips most of the cobbled races... Or does he? "It's not a definite calendar"

Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team has announced Tom Pidcock's spring schedule. At least fans won't have to worry about not seeing the British rider at the start; they will be able to enjoy his performances fully. Unfortunately, for true fans of cobbled races, there is bad news: He is skipping almost all of them. That said, according to Kurt Bogaerts, Pidcock is keeping the door slightly open.

During the AlUla Tour, we spoke to Pidcock and his mentor, Kurt Bogaerts, about his next goal: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. However, it now appears that this will be the only cobbled race he will participate in.

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Pidcock on the AlUla Tour

Italian weeks for Pidcock and the Ardennes classics

"We can train hard for the next two or three weeks leading up to the Ruta del Sol, and then we'll try to make an impact in the spring," Bogaerts said. That spring begins after the Spanish stage race with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. "Omloop is not an easy race, but he enjoys riding there. We know he's a lightweight; these races aren't easy for him. But it drives him, motivates him, and pushes his limits. To be a complete rider, he has to keep doing this, and I encourage it. You sometimes need that in Grand Tours too; if that ever becomes part of his career path, he can look forward to that," Bogaerts points out.

That's probably why Pidcock is skipping the rest of the cobbled races. The cobblestones don't suit his body. Fortunately, there are plenty of other races. After the Omloop, the 25-year-old British rider will head to Italy, where the Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Milan-Sanremo are on the schedule. After that, the Red Bull rider will skip all the cobbled races leading to the Ardennes classics. He is planning to compete in all of those classics.

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Pidcock with his domestiques

Pidcock and his team get along well

Pidcock experienced his debut for his new Swiss team in the AlUla Tour. It was a success with an overall win and two stage wins. The British rider is feeling good, and it shows. "On Tuesday, I rode my best five-minute metric ever, and I think I put down my best 10-minute metric here. I'm not surprised by my level because I've made great progress in training and nutrition. And that is paying off now," he told us after the AlUla Tour.

Pidcock fits well in the team. "Some criticized his transfer to this team, but ... I know, the team knows, and he knows it's an excellent decision," Frederik Frison said.

"Surely this is proof of that, so the people criticizing have been silenced a little bit anyway," he continued. "The team is labeled procontinental, but it is WorldTour, for example, in terms of material, operation, and everything else. This is known within the cycling world - among the riders - so we were also very happy that Tom joined us. We needed that, and it became immediately clear that it would pay off," the Belgian continued.

The Swiss team gains new momentum with a leader like Pidcock in the ranks. This not only gives them a clear goal for the race but also makes them favorites at the start. It's a huge motivation. Maintaining this positive attitude for the upcoming races is crucial, especially for the next big goal: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

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Bogaerts on Pidcock’s schedule: "Tom likes to have a certain freedom"

Renowned cycling journalist Daniel Benson spoke with Pidcock’s trainer and confidant, Kurt Bogaerts, following the announcement of the rider’s spring schedule. According to Bogaerts, Pidcock’s current program is not set in stone, and participation in races like the Tour of Flanders remains a possibility. "It’s not a definite calendar. We need to see how things are going and how Tom feels after the block with Milan-San Remo," said Bogaerts.

"We have the option to always change the programme, and we have the races, and that’s a good point, but he can’t do every race. That’s impossible," Bogaerts emphasized, stressing that choices have to be made. "If you start from AlUla until Liege, that’s a long block, and then you need to make choices and find time to train as well. Let’s see how everything progresses and make regular evaluations. I think that Tom is someone who likes to have a certain freedom, so he can potentially change if he wants to change, and then we’ll see. If everything works out well with no crashes, injuries or sickness, then this is highly likely his program, but things can still change."

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"Pidcock definitely wants to play a key role in a few stages"

After a packed spring campaign, Pidcock may make his debut in the Giro d’Italia in early May. However, to that end, his team, Q36.5, depends on receiving a wildcard invitation, and the Giro organizers have yet to make a final decision. With a big name like Pidcock on their roster, Q36.5 certainly has a strong case for selection.

"So it’s really nice that we have other races that we can race and we can juggle when we need to, for example, a potential start in the Giro. We definitely need to look at things," Bogaerts said.

If Pidcock does race the Giro, he will not be competing for the general classification. "We’re not going to go to the Giro just to start. You never know, but it’s not immediately for GC," Bogaerts stated. "But he definitely wants to play a key role in a few stages and to try and win there. You need to have mental and physical freshness for that."

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