Analysing Tom Pidcock's Classics support
Who are the key riders that will aim to step up and support their new team leader?
With Tom Pidcock set to make one-day races, and primarily the Spring Classics, one of the biggest targets of his road season in 2025, we’ve looked under the hood when it comes to his support at Q36.5 Pro Cycling.
The Swiss team only won five times in 2024, while their results in the major one-day races that they were invited to were modest, to say the least.
Pidcock is certainly a game changer when it comes to the team's aspirations, but he won’t be able to take on the WorldTour juggernauts on his own, and depth within his new team since his arrival from Ineos Grenadiers will be vital.
In this feature, we look at 12 riders best placed to help the Amstel Gold and Strade Bianche winner.
Gianluca Brambilla 🇮🇹
Handing 35-year-old Brambilla a three-year contract at the start of 2023 looked like a questionable piece of business for the first-year team, but the veteran has at least picked up a few top-tens, with fifth in the AlUla Tour earlier this year, one of his highlights.
With over 20 Monument starts and 16 Grand Tours in his legs, the now 37-year-old is one of the most experienced riders on the team. His results in the Monuments have been poor, but he was once third in Strade Bianche, so that level of knowledge could be vital for a team that’s still finding its feet. In his prime, he would have been a useful foil for Pidcock but that was eight years ago. Now, it’s about using Brambilla’s experience on and off the bike and then finding an upgrade on the market for 2026. He’s potential DS material when he does eventually stop.
Read more: 5 Ineos riders who can step up following Tom Pidcock's departure.
Frederik Frison 🇧🇪
The Belgian’s season was massively disrupted as a result of a dog attack at his family home, and he raced just 25 race days in total this year. If the 32-year-old can return to his best, then he will surely be one of Pidcock’s best teammates in the Spring Classics.
The former Lotto rider was fourth in Classic Brugge-De Panne and Gent-Wevelgem in 2023, and although he’s never won a race since turning pro, he’s a trusted hand who has been part of cobbled Classics campaigns since his junior days. It’s also a contract year for the Belgian, so he’ll want to impress his new leader early on and secure a ride for the next couple of seasons.