Doug Ryder Commends Tom Pidcock’s “Next Level” Attention to Detail

Tom Pidcock, the British cyclist who secured a mountain bike gold medal at this year’s Olympics, possesses “next level” attention to detail, according to his new team boss, Doug Ryder. The 25-year-old rider joined the Swiss Q36.5 team earlier this month, having departed Ineos Grenadiers after a three-year period with the British squad. Ryder described Pidcock’s signing as “a game changer for us,” stating that the team is “giving him full leadership, trust, and faith to try and support his goals and ambitions.” Pidcock established his reputation in road cycling by winning stage 12 of the 2022 Tour de France, which culminated at Alpe d’Huez. During this stage, he captivated fans with descending speeds reaching nearly 100km/h. “His attention to detail is next level,” Ryder reiterated. He explained that Pidcock “focuses on every millimetre; on the bike positioning and the bike set-up, to the nutrition, to the race programme, to the coaching.” Ryder also noted that Pidcock “met with all the leaders in our team… the head coach, the head nutritionist, the head doctor, the head of performance and was challenging and asking questions.” Pidcock also achieved victories in the Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold one-day classics in 2023 and 2024, respectively. However, he was omitted from Ineos’ line-up towards the end of the 2024 season, with team-mate Geraint Thomas remarking that “the people around Tom don’t help.” In contrast, Ryder was impressed by Pidcock’s work ethic during their initial training session at an impromptu camp in Spain, which the double Olympic mountain bike champion had initiated. Ryder commented, “He’s really, really wants to get the whole team on board with him, which I haven’t seen in some big leaders in the past.” He added, “He’s such a good leader and motivator, and it has really impressed our riders.” Pidcock’s team participates in the second-tier ProTour series, which is positioned below road cycling’s World Tour. Nevertheless, the team anticipates securing wildcard entries for many of the one-day races during the 2025 World Tour season. The team, managed by Ryder, has operated under various names throughout the years, including Team Dimension Data, which once included Mark Cavendish. They benefit from substantial investment from mining magnate and cycling enthusiast Ivan Glasenberg, as well as support from several high-profile brands. With Pidcock now on board, they also expect to qualify for some, or all, of the sport’s three three-week Grand Tours, including the Tour de France. The 2025 Road World Championships will also be a key focus for Pidcock, as he aims to win the rainbow bands on the road, thereby augmenting his cyclocross and mountain bike accolades.