Double Olympic gold-medallist Tom Pidcock is to leave cycling team INEOS Grenadiers at the end of this season.
The 25-year-old, INEOS’ highest-paid rider, had publicly expressed his frustration with the team in October.
INEOS have been controlled by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe since 2019, though have largely struggled under his stewardship.
They had been the dominant team in the peloton during the 2010s under previous ownership Team Sky, but are now winless across the last 11 Grand Tours. The Athletic reported on issues related to the team’s recruitment, structure, and culture in August.
Dave Brailsford, currently a senior advisor at Manchester United, formally resigned his position as team principal in January, though retains oversight as head of sport at the wider INEOS Group. He signed Pidcock back in 2021.
INEOS Grenadiers have today announced an agreement that will see Tom Pidcock leave the team at the end of the season.
Thank you for some amazing moments @tompidcock and good luck in the next chapter of your career 👊🤝https://t.co/5RoFN1eonB pic.twitter.com/bbO0vhAyW5
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) December 4, 2024
While still winning several important races, such as the Strade Bianche in 2023, and Stage 12 of the 2022 Tour de France up the legendary Alpe d’Huez, Pidcock has failed to develop into the potential Grand Tour winner which INEOS may have hoped for.
Despite being signed to one of professional cycling’s most lucrative contracts, Spanish rider Carlos Rodriguez has now replaced him as team leader in major stage races.
Ahead of this summer’s Tour de France, team manager Steve Cummings was mysteriously left behind, having typically been taken to every race as a key voice in team strategy.
Rumours swirled of a fallout between Cummings and Pidcock, which INEOS refused to comment on. The race saw the team’s worst results since 2010, while Cummings subsequently left the team.
After winning cross-country mountain biking gold in Paris this summer, Pidcock described himself as “frazzled” over his future, despite his contract running until 2027.
Then, in October, he was left off the start list for Il Lombardia, the final race of the season. The British rider subsequently posted on his Instagram: “Just as things were on the up after a turbulent end to the year I am deselected for Lombardia tomorrow. I am in great shape and was really looking forward to it!
“Good luck to the boys, I guess the off-season starts early. Thanks for everyone’s support even in the tough times.”
Over the following months, INEOS and Pidcock negotiated an exit deal which allows the rider to leave his contract early.
In an INEOS statement on Wednesday afternoon, the team’s CEO said: “We’re really proud of the work we’ve done with Tom to help him achieve some extraordinary and memorable moments. Together we’ve written a powerful chapter and shown how exciting and diverse professional cycling can be.
“Tom has some big multi-disciplinary goals and we believe this decision enables both of us to pursue our future ambitions with clarity, purpose and determination.
“We thank Tom for the last four years and wish him the best of luck for the future.”
(Marcel Van Hoorn/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
