Tom Pidcock has introduced that he gained’t be racing any cyclocross this winter, as an alternative opting to give attention to getting ready for the 2025 highway season along with his new workforce Q36.5.
In an Instagram submit, Pidcock wrote that he needs to make use of the time to “settle into a brand new setting” along with his new workforce following his departure from the Ineos Grenadiers after 4 years. He added that he plans to return to cyclocross for the 2025-26 season.
“On Sunday I watched my first cyclocross of this season and it jogged my memory I ought to in all probability formally point out that this yr, I cannot race cyclocross,” the previous world champion wrote.
“With lots of change, I need to ensure that I’ve the time to settle into a brand new setting to get to know my new workforce and teammates effectively. However to date, my plan can be to return to the sector subsequent yr.”
Pidcock has raced full cyclocross campaigns as a junior, under-23 and elite since 2015-16, albeit using decreased campaigns in latest seasons as he has focussed extra on highway racing. This season would be the first of his profession with no cyclocross races on the schedule.
He has taken the rainbow jersey in all three age classes, successful the junior title in Luxembourg in 2017, the under-23 title in Denmark in 2019, and the elite title within the USA in 2022. Pidcock’s final ‘cross win got here on the UCI World Cup in Namur a yr in the past immediately.
Whereas Pidcock may not be racing cyclocross this winter, the returns of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are imminent.
Reigning world champion Van der Poel will make his season debut on the UCI World Cup in Zonhoven on December 22 and can deal with 9 additional races – together with 5 additional World Cup rounds – en path to his world title defence in Lièvin on February 2.
Van Aert will begin racing on December 23, taking over Van der Poel on the Superprestige Mol. He has outlined a decreased six-race calendar the place he’ll conflict with Van der Poel three extra instances at Precise Cross Loenhout (December 27) and at two UCI World Cup rounds in Dendermonde (January 5) and Hoogerheide (January 26).
