Tom Pidcock’s rumored transfer to Q36.5 is off, at least for now. The British rider, who was widely expected to leave Ineos Grenadiers, will instead stay with the team, respecting his existing contract, which runs until the end of 2027. 

According to Cyclingnews, a trusted source confirmed the news, stating, “He stays at Ineos,” suggesting that Pidcock and Ineos Grenadiers have found a way to continue working together into 2025, despite the previous tension.

The controversy surrounding Pidcock’s future had been brewing all summer. His role at Ineos had become more complicated after a series of events that included his gold medal win in the Olympic mountain bike event, a crash at the Tour of Britain, and frustration over his portrayal in the Netflix Tour de France documentary. As Cyclingnews reports, Pidcock admitted at the Paris Olympics that he was “mentally a bit frazzled” due to the speculation about his future.

Initially, Pidcock was expected to join Q36.5 after being suddenly "deselected" from the Ineos line-up for Il Lombardia, following a senior management decision. The deal with Q36.5 was seen as all but sealed after other options, such as a potential move to Visma-Lease a Bike, fell through. 

Cyclingnews had revealed that Q36.5 billionaire owner Ivan Glasenberg was ready to boost the team’s budget to secure Pidcock’s signature. However, the negotiations did not result in a finalized transfer.

'How Did It Get To This Point?'

Geraint Thomas, one of Pidcock’s Ineos teammates, commented on the situation during an Instagram takeover for Eurosport, saying, “I don't actually know what has gone on, all I know is, when the highest-paid rider in your team… it's obviously a really crap situation. He's not happy, the team's not happy. How has it got to this point? I don't know. People who are around Tom I don't think help.”

While the transfer to Q36.5 has been called off for now, the relationship between Pidcock and Ineos is still in question. The team had even considered paying part of Pidcock’s €3.5 million salary to ease his departure, Cyclingnews reported.

For now, Pidcock is expected to remain with Ineos Grenadiers, with the team’s off-season gathering in early November potentially offering a chance to restore his leadership role and set clear goals for 2025. However, the uncertainty surrounding his long-term future remains.