Tom Pidcock and Pinarello Q36.5 kick off their 2026 Tour de France campaign with a challenging 19.6km team time trial around Barcelona's iconic roads on Saturday.

Pidcock comes into the three-week Grand Tour among the GC favourites and will be looking for the best possible start, which will require a strong, well-executed team effort. As the leader of Pinarello Q36.5, he has a host of riders to support him, including newly crowned British National Road Race Champion Fred Wright.

As a multi-discipline rider, Pidcock has myriad bike options at his disposal, but will naturally be riding a Pinarello Bolide F time trial bike. While his teammates will use the same bike, albeit with the regular navy-blue-and-gold livery, the Yorkshireman will ride a unique black-and-gold-themed machine.

Let's get into the details.

The Pinarello Bolide F underwent an update in 2024, borrowing technologies from the Bolide F HR – the bike used by the men’s and women’s Italian track teams in the Olympic endurance events. Look closely, and you'll notice the ribbed, drag-reducing edging on the seat tube and seatpost called AirStream technology.

The front end is fairly high, with a dual-stack, five-spacer system that supports custom one-piece bar extensions by Most. While the cups use standard foam padding, two 3D-printed strips - like the lattice structures you'll find on some saddles - are located on each extension to support the forearms.

The Bolide F is outfitted in a full SRAM Red AXS groupset, including a power meter. Pidcock has opted for a fairly traditional 1x gearing configuration comprising a single 60T chainring that drives a 10-36T cassette via very short 160mm cranks. While the X-Sync narrow/wide tooth profiling should keep the chain in place, there's a Wolf Tooth chainkeeper for added security.

Look closely, and you'll notice that the BB ends of both crankarms have been filled with 3D-printed plugs to smooth the surface and possibly save a few watts . There's also a waxed chain.

The wheels come compliments of Zipp. In this case, an 858 NSW front and Super-9 solid rear disc wrapped in surprisingly 'narrow' 28mm Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed tyres – no doubt a personal choice and aerodynamic decision. The Bolide can accommodate tyres as wide as 32mm, so the chosen configuration is far from maxed out.

Because SRAM only supplies its wireless blips with adhesive tape, to improve the look and ergonomics, Pidcock has used a 3D-printed Leap Components Aero Grip Blip Mount for the brake levers and TT Shift assembly to neatly house the blips. It looks super refined and also adds extra grip when holding the basebar during cornering. While Leap products are becoming popular among riders and teams who use SRAM, we're told Pidcock sourced these items himself.

The Prologo Predator saddle has become a popular choice for riders during time trials, thanks to its aero and ergonomically optimised shape. Pidcock's one is the new 02 version, which gets added padding and grip from Connect Power Control technology strips along the top. This model is constructed from injected carbon fibre and uses a standard Nack (nano carbon-fibre) 7x9mm rail - and is compatible with any seatpost. At £520 a pop, it's not a cheap component, but at 163g it is light and promises a 6.4-Watt saving over the previous model.

The finishing touches include a pair of Shimano Dura-Ace PD-R9100 pedals and a Taxc time trial bottle cage.

With many fully built time trial bikes tipping the scales at between 9-10kg, Pidcock's Pinarello Bolide F weighed in at a feathery 8.85kg.

Pinarello Bolide F TT bike specs

• Frameset: TorayCa 1100G, TiCR
• Fork: Bolide TT Onda Fork with ForkFlap
• Cockpit: Custom Most TT basebar and extensions
• Seatpost: Pinarello Aero
• Groupset: SRAM Red AXS 60T, 10-36T
• Wheelset: Zipp 858 NSW front/ Super-9 Disc rear
• Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed 28mm
• Saddle: Prologo Predator 01//TT
• Weight: 8.85kg (with pedals)

In the hours after Fred Wright won the British National Road Championships last weekend, cogs started to turn at Pinarello Q36.5. Only four days separated the event from the Tour de France’s team presentation in Barcelona, Spain, where Wright will line up ahead of his sixth appearance at the race. He had earned his right to wear the British bands. Could his team make him a new kit in time? “They were the first emails being sent,” Wright says. “That evening, on Sunday, that was the first thing: ‘OK, how are we going to get this ready?’”

The matter quickly became pressing. The truth is, not only does Wright want to show off his second national champion’s jersey, the spoils of his latest victory, he’s also plotting to win in it.

Since making his Tour debut in 2021, Wright has led breakaways at the race, tallied a string of stage top-10s, and scored a near-miss second place behind Mads Pedersen in 2022. This year, having swapped Bahrain Victorious for Tour debutants Pinarello Q36.5, he hopes everything will fall into place.

“I’m always going to be at the start line of a Grand Tour wanting to win a stage. I think that’s how I am as a rider,” he tells Cycling Weekly. “I just want to be in the mix for stages, showing the bands. I got in a few breakaways last year, but I probably wasn’t as up there and involved as I’d have liked. Wherever there’s a chance, I’d like to be there.”

Wright, 27, is now in his seventh year as a pro. To date, a major international win has eluded him, despite his will to attack. Five times he has finished in the top five of stages at the Vuelta a España, once at the Tour, and until his National Championships win in Aberystwyth on Sunday, which came from a three-man shout-out with Lewis Askey (NSN Cycling) and Connor Swift (Netcompany-Ineos), he hadn’t won for three years – his only other pro victory being the same in 2023.

To win again, he says, felt “really special – it’s nice to know that I can still play a final well and come out of it on top. In a scenario where you’re not necessarily the favourite, knowing that I can still wangle my way to the win, that bodes well for the Tour.

“One thing’s for sure: I felt really good, which is always nice. Everyone’s flying at the Tour, everyone’s going well, but I can confidently say I’m in very good shape.”

Pinarello Q36.5 manager Doug Ryder announced on Wednesday that the team are planning to race “proactively” on their Tour debut. The squad will be led by Vuelta podium finisher Tom Pidcock, who, along with his seven team-mates, will “look for opportunities every day”, Ryder added.

Wright has already singled out his chances over the three weeks. “There’ll be a bit of helping Tom, but I think the plan also is to go for breaks,” he says. “I’ve already got some stages in my head, how the race is going to flow. It’s really exciting.”

Naturally, Wright would not be drawn on announcing the days he is targeting. “With these breaks, especially in high-level races, it’s random enough that you don’t want to think about it too much,” he says.

“You never really know how the GC gets involved, or what breakaway stages are going to be like. But no, I’ve got my eye on some stages and I’m always going to be hopeful, always going to be trying.”

After waiting three years to win again, Wright's next victory could be days away. The finish line shot, arms outstretched in the red, white and blue of the British champion's jersey, would surely sit nicely in a frame on the mantelpiece.

Tom Pidcock will lead Pinarello Q36.5 at its first appearance at the Tour de France, it was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon,

The 26-year-old returns to the Tour this season after missing the 2025 edition due to his ProTeam not being invited; with Pinarello Q36.5 on the start line, the Yorkshireman returns.

He will be joined by British champion Fred Wright, alongside Xabier Mikel Azparren, Chris Harper, Quinten Hermans, Damien Howson, Xandro Meurisse and Brent Van Moer.

The Tour returns to Alpe d'Huez for two stages this July, for the first time since Pidcock won atop the mountain in 2022. It remains his sole stage win to date, although he did come close with second-place on the gravel stage to Troyes in 2024. He finished third overall at last year's Vuelta a España, his best Grand Tour result to date.

Wright has finished in the top 10 on stages eight times, coming second once in 2022. He is yet to win a race other than the British National Championships, but has finished second twice this year. Harper rode the Giro d'Italia in May, and won a stage at the same race last year.

Team principal Doug Ryder said: "From day one, the Tour de France has been a clear objective for this project. To now be on the start line is an important step, but more importantly, it reflects the consistency of the work that’s gone into building this team.

"We come with a group that combines experience, versatility and the mindset we want to race with. Our approach is simple we’ll race proactively, look for opportunities every day and make sure we’re present throughout all three weeks.

"This milestone goes well beyond the eight riders selected. It’s the result of years of commitment from the staff, the belief within the organisation, and the support of our partners Q36.5, Pinarello, UBS and many others who’ve helped create an environment where performance can grow.

"Being here is significant, but for us it’s not an end point. It’s another step in the progression of the team."

The team are riding in a special kit for the Tour, in a lighter hue, "to give the riders a distinctively fresher summer-weather look and feel while standing out clearly in the peloton throughout July".

Tom Pidcock will not start the Tour de Suisse on Wednesday after missing training days due to a mild viral infection.

The Briton was due to lead Pinarello Q36.5 at the five-stage race as part of his preparation for the Tour de France, which begins in less than three weeks.

Instead, and "health permitting", Pidcock will compete in the one-day Andorra MoraBanc Classica on 21 June, his team said in a statement.

"Following a small number of missed training days at the teams altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada due to contracting a mild viral infection, the Pinarello Q 36.5 Pro Cycling Team has decided to amend Tom Pidcock’s June race programme to allow for additional recovery and training time," the team said.

"As such the Tour of Switzerland has been removed from his race calendar to be replaced, health permitting, by the Andorra MoraBanc Classica on 21 June.

"While disappointed to miss the Team's home race, Tom has returned home to Andorra where he will continue to train and is now very much looking forward to competing on his adopted home roads around the mountains of Andorra.

"Further updates will be provided in due course."

The team made no mention of changes to Pidcock's plans for the Tour de France, where he is still expected to compete.

The 26-year-old last competed at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Nové Město, Czech Republic, on 24 May. The Olympic champion won the cross-country event, and finished second in the short track the same day. He hasn't competed on the road since he placed second at Eschborn-Frankfurt on 1 May.

Earlier this month, Pidcock travelled to Sierra Nevada, Spain, for a pre-Tour training camp with his Pinarello Q36.5 team-mates.

He has said he will not target the general classification at this year's race, despite finishing third at the Vuelta a España last September.

“This year I’m not going with any expectations,” he said on the Fredono Going Mental podcast. “I want to race, and I want to have fun, and the rest will come. If I’m not saying, ‘Ok, I want to win a stage, I want to podium, I want to be top five,’ or whatever it is, then there is nothing to fail at.”

The Tour de France begins on 4 July with a team time trial in Barcelona, Spain.

Tom Pidcock's coach Kurt Bogaerts has said that the presence of Tadej Pogačar is something to be accepted and relished as a challenge, rather than something to complain about.

The Pinarello-Q36.5 head of performance was speaking to Dutch outlet Wielerflits about the Briton's approach to this weekend's Strade Bianche – a race that he won back in 2023 but which UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Pogačar has made his own for the past two seasons.

"You're going to face him in all the big races, right?" Bogaerts said of the Slovenian. "So you have to deal with that. You have to try to be really good yourself and then see how you can battle him. I think something is definitely possible. If we aim for a good result, the rest will follow. We shouldn't complain. It's only good for the sport that Pogačar is interested in a wide range of races. Honestly, I like that."

He was responding to a comment suggesting it did not matter how well prepared Pidcock was, he would still have to face the defending champion.

Bogaerts added: "Last year, Tom went first. Not necessarily with the intention of anticipating, but mainly to play to his own strengths. Tom has a good sense of his capabilities, and then it's a matter of waiting to see how the opposition reacts. We're going to try to do that again. We're not averse to taking action ourselves, but we might end up in a scenario we have to follow."

He said Pidcock was "not losing any sleep" over a disappointing 48th place finish at Omloop Nieuwsblad, where he suffered with the cold after what Bogaerts said were poor clothing choices, and a crash.

"But he still managed to get back to the front from behind the last group. I don't really understand how he managed that… You can't do that if you're not in top form, I think," he said.

He called Strade Bianche "one of the races that [Pidcock] gets out of bed for" and is very passionate about. The Yorkshire rider has already done a recon ride himself, and the whole team is set to do another this week.

Things hadn't really "fallen into place" for Pidcock so far this year, said Bogaerts, with the issues at Omloop and a shortened Vuelta Murcia, for example. But his performance at the Ruta del Sol, where he won a stage, showed he was on good form.

Strade Bianche takes place this Saturday 7 March – if you want to follow the action, check out our streaming guide here.

Tom Pidcock kicked off his Spring Classics campaign at Opening Weekend’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in Gent, Belgium – a 207.2km loop that takes in many of the familiar cobbles and bergs of the Flemish Ardennes. He came into the race in fine form, having won the fifth and final stage of the Vuelta a Andalucía, but with Mathieu van der Poel, Kasper Asgreen, and Florian Vermeersch also on the start line, and with notably cold and damp conditions, a good result would always prove tough.

The Briton would eventually finish in a disappointing 48th position after battling the cold and crashes, ultimately losing contact with the peloton with 60km to go.

In terms of equipment, Pidcock opted for a fairly standard setup, save for the addition of a 1x drivetrain – a setup that proved immensely popular across all the teams. His size 465 Pinarello Dogma F frame might be one of the smaller sizes in the Italian bike maker’s range, but with a stack and reach of 525.2- and 372.2mm (a stack-to-reach ratio of 1.41), it allows for a very aggressive, aerodynamic position.

The Yorkshireman’s Most Talon UltraFast integrated handlebar was paired with a 120mm stem, which was among the shortest at the race, but not uncommon. The frame is painted in a stunning matte treatment with gold wordmark logos providing a vivid contrast to the satin-navy hue. It’s one classy-looking machine.

While the frame can accommodate tyre widths of up to 32mm, Pidcock - like much of the peloton - opted for 30mm rubber. In this case, a pair of Vittoria Corsa Pro wrapped around Zipp 303 SW wheels, complete with integrated AXS wheel sensor. Here, the gold Zipp decals and tan walls add an extra layer of visual drama and help create a cohesive package.

Component-wise, the Dogma F is outfitted with SRAM Red AXS, featuring a single 54T chainring that drives a 10-36T cassette via 165mm cranks. Despite the X-Sync narrow/wide tooth profile of the ring, a Wolf Tooth chainkeeper was fitted to ensure the chain stayed put over the choppy terrain and cobbled sections. The finishing kit comes compliments of the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling's sponsors – so there’s the proven Tacx Deva bottle cages, a Prologo Nago R4 PAS 137mm saddle, and Shimano Dura-Ace PD-R9100 pedals.

Even in Classics trim, where weight is not a priority, the Dogma F was the lightest bike we weighed at Opening Weekend at 7.18kg with pedals.

Specs

• Frameset: TorayCa M40X, TiCR
• Fork: eTICR Onda Fork with ForkFlap
• Cockpit: Most Talon Ultra Fast integrated cockpit
• Seatpost: Pinarello Aero
• Groupset: SRAM Red AXS 54T, 10-36T
• Wheelset: Zipp 303 SW
• Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro 30mm
• Saddle: Prologo Nago R4 PAS

Tom Pidcock has called the Tour de France a "massive opportunity" and an "honour" for Pinarello-Q36.5, after the ProTeam were announced as one of the 23 squads taking part in the Grand Tour this summer.

The 26-year-old will return to the Tour this summer after not racing it in 2025 after his move to Q36.5, a second-division team, from WorldTour outfit Ineos Grenadiers. However, the Swiss squad took enough points, mostly through Pidcock, to mean that they are automatically invited to all WorldTour events in 2026, including the Tour.

As a result, he will be – barring misfortune – on the start line in Barcelona in July, back at the race which brought him one of the peaks of his career, his win on Alpe d'Huez at the 2022 race. The Tour returns to the iconic mountain for two stages this year.

"The Tour de France is the biggest race in the world, the biggest bike race in the world," Pidcock said in a team statement. "So yeah, to be able to go there and to try and perform the best you can is an honour. So I think that’s an exciting task for us as a team, to be there in the best shape possible. I think it’s really special that we’re going to the Tour de France this year.

"We have earned our place, the team, through our performances last year, that’s given us the right to go there and no one can take that away from us. So I think it’s a massive opportunity. I’ve had ups and downs in the Tour de France the last years, so it’s nice now, with this new team, to earn our own place there. It’s the biggest stage we have to race on. With that comes so much baggage but I think in this team they help me carry it all."

It will be Pidcock's fourth Tour; as well as his stage win in 2022, he has spent time in the white jersey and the top 10 overall. On his last appearance, in 2024, he finished second on the gravel stage to Troyes, but also hit the headlines as Ineos' then director of racing Steve Cummings was kept away from the race. Since moving to Q36.5, Pidcock has won five times, and finished third overall at the Vuelta a España last summer.

"I think personally, my biggest objective is to go there, enjoy the suffering, enjoy the intensity of the race, the media with the racing," he said. "I think if we can enjoy it and enjoy the suffering as a team, then the results will come from that. I think we’re a team that’s growing, so to have the opportunity to go and race the Tour is just one step along the way. Of course, where we want to go is to be at the Tour de France every year, racing every year for wins. So yeah, it’s another step on the ladder of where we want to get to, I guess."

Pidcock's season will begin next week at the Vuelta a Murcia before he targets the Classics. Last month, he travelled to Chile for some altitude training in a less popular location.

Pinarello-Q36.5, Caja Rural Seguros RGA and TotalEnergies are among the 23 teams which will race the 2026 Tour de France, it was announced on Friday morning by organiser ASO.

All 18 WorldTour teams will be present, plus five ProTeams: the three best performing of 2025, according to UCI points, and two further wildcards.

Cofidis, Tudor, and Pinarello-Q36.5 are the three automatic qualifiers from the ProTeam ranks, while wildcards invites have been handed to Caja Rural Seguros RGA and TotalEnergies. It means no spot for Unibet Rose Rockets, who were widely tipped to be present at this year's French Grand Tour.

"2026 is still going to be an incredible year, and we will do everything we can to keep improving ourselves," Bas Tietema, who founded the Rockets, said in an Instagram video. "The Tour de France is and will always be our dream race. So please, keep dreaming with us. Because there is so much more coming our way. Not only this year, but also the years to come.

"We feel a lot of support from the hundreds of thousands of fans who follow us on YouTube, social media, and on the road. It's simply better when we experience this together, and we need the support of all of you to achieve big things in 2026."

The Tour begins on Saturday 4 July in Barcelona; it therefore seems fitting that a second Spanish team, alongside Movistar, will be present on the start line.

On Instagram, Caja Rural posted: "Today we live a moment that will stay forever in our history: Caja Rural Seguros RGA will compete in the next edition of the Tour, which will also start in Barcelona.

"This path has been made possible by the tireless work of the team and the passion of a fan that never stops pushing.

"Today we celebrate together. Tomorrow we continue pedaling towards new challenges."

Caja Rural will be making its debut at the French Grand Tour, alongside Pinarello-Q36.5, although both have raced at the Vuelta a España in the past, and Q36.5 rode the Giro d'Italia last year. The latter's inclusion makes it likely that Tom Pidcock will return to the race after he missed it in 2025. Tudor's presence means Julian Alaphilippe will also be expected to return to the Tour.

Q36.5's general manager, Doug Ryder, said: "Being at the Tour de France for the first time for this Team is a moment of great pride for everyone involved in the project — riders, staff, and partners alike. It confirms the work done over the last few years and the belief we have shared from the beginning. The Tour is the greatest showcase in our sport, and with that comes a huge responsibility: to represent our partners at the highest possible level, to race with intent, and to be 100% present, 100% prepared, every single day."

Uno-X Mobility, Lotto Intermarché and NSN return to the Tour as WorldTour teams, after racing as invited or qualified teams in 2024 and 2025.

Tour de France 2026 teams

- Alpecin-Premier Tech (WT)
- Bahrain Victorious (WT)
- Caja Rural Seguros RGA (PRT)
- Cofidis (PRT)
- Decathlon CMA CGM (WT)
- EF Education-EasyPost (WT)
- Groupama-FDJ United (WT)
- Ineos Grenadiers (WT)
- Jayco AlUla (WT)
- Lidl-Trek (WT)
- Lotto Intermarché (WT)
- Movistar (WT)
- NSN Cycling (WT)
- Picnic PostNL (WT)
- Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling (PRT)
- Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe (WT)
- Soudal Quick-Step (WT)
- TotalEnergies (PRT)
- Tudor Pro Cycling (PRT)
- UAE Team Emirates-XRG (WT)
- Uno-X Mobility (WT)
- Visma-Lease a Bike (WT)
- XDS Astana (WT)

Currently training in Chile with his Pinarello-Q36.5 team, Tom Pidcock has been turning in some impressive rides over the past two weeks, although none more so than yesterday's 200.2km epic.

Joined by new team-mate Fred Wright, as well as Fabio Christen, Xandro Meurisse and Quinten Hermans, the Yorkshire rider rode west out of the mountains to the plains north of capital Santiago, before turning back for a return journey that comprised more than 80km of almost unbroken climbing to their hotel at 2,750m of altitude.

By the time they had got back, the riders had amassed Queen-stage levels of vertical ascent – 4,003m – and seven hours in the saddle, all at 28.5kph (17.4mph).

Pidcock gave little away beyond the bare stats, leaving the name as Strava's default 'Morning Ride' and opting not to post any comments. He did, however, rack up several top-10 awards and a few PRs too. Five of the latter were bagged on the final couple of hikes to the hotel, suggesting that he was, at least, trying pretty hard at this point.

Pidcock begins his season with a trio of smaller Spanish races in mid-February, including the hilly, five-day Ruta del Sol in Spain. Chile, it seems, is likely to have prepared him well.

His team has been talking in the Belgian press about the 25-day camp, noting the unique attractions of this unusual and far-flung training destination; while it is ostensibly an altitude camp, it could also be deemed an acclimatisation camp for the searing heat – 36°C in the valley where they do their intervals, according to Pidcock's team-mate Meurisse.

"When you're sheltered from the wind on the bike, it feels like an oven," the Belgian told Het Laatse Nieuws. "Sweating is the order of the day." Added to that is a UV Index of 14, meaning the riders have to reapply SPF50 several times a day in order to avoid being sunburned.

Despite the discomfort and the inconvenience the high temperatures bring, the advantages of training in Chile as opposed to the more traditional Mount Teide in Tenerife where it's 10 degrees cooler, or Spain's Sierra Nevada where there is still snow around, is not lost on the team.

"These days, every professional cyclist does heat training as an extra stimulus to expose their body to extreme conditions," team rider Hermans pointed out to HLN. "They cycle indoors in warm clothing on rollers or go to the sauna, but here you simply do those heat sessions outside on the bike in shorts and sleeves."

Sam Bennett has resumed training after suffering a heart scare late last year, which turned out to be atrial fibrillation.

The Irish sprinter, who signed for Pinarello Q36.5 for 2026, had an ablation procedure to treat it, and is now back on the bike.

Speaking to the Irish Independent this week, Bennett explained that he had "heart flutters, palpitations and an uneasy sensation", which was inexplicable.

"To be honest, I didn’t want to annoy anybody. I kind of waited until I knew the doctors would be awake and I rang them then," the 35-year-old said. "Towards the end of last year, I wasn’t going great and I couldn’t understand what was happening. I started back training and I had some weird sensations for the first three days.

"I was thinking, 'Whoa, I’m really unfit here!' That night, I was in bed and started getting heart flutters, palpitations and an uneasy sensation in my chest. I could feel my heart rate rising and the fact that I didn’t know what was happening didn’t help.

"I rang the team doctors at Pinarello Q36.5 and the medical team were absolutely amazing. I think it happened on November 14 and the next day I was straight into a top specialist."

Bennett, who has won stages at all three Grand Tours, was operated on mid-November, before he endured a prescribed period of rest, before a measured return to the bike.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac issue in midlife cyclists. It is caused by disordered electrical signals generated within the heart’s upper-chambers (atria), and most often presents as an abnormally high reading on your heart monitor, with a consequent 30% immediate drop in power.

>>> I wrote the book on midlife cyclist health – but missed the heart risk that nearly killed me

"After the ablation and completing all necessary medical checks the athlete was cleared to progressively resume training," Dr Lorenz Emmert, the team's doctor, said in a statement. "The return to activity has been structured, gradual, and closely monitored at every stage, fully in line with medical protocols."

"Seeing Sam back in training is the most important and positive sign," Pinarello Q36.5 manager, Doug Ryder, added. "He approached the process with patience and professionalism, and the team supported him at every step. We remain fully behind him, first as a person, and then as a rider."

"Health comes first," Bennett said. "They’ve [the team have] been amazing. We’re just going to take it step by step, see how things develop. I’ve had a lot of time off now. We have to see how the body reacts to the stimulus we give it.

"I was on blood thinners for eight weeks. I couldn’t risk crashing, but I’m up and running, I’m back on the road. There’s nothing really planned, but I don’t want to be too relaxed about it. I’m setting myself the end of March to be ready so that I don’t take my foot off the gas, but I can only do what the body lets me do."

Bennett spent two years at Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale before signing for his new team. He won nine races in that time, but none at WorldTour level, where he had established himself as one of the best sprinters in the world previously.

"In the past few years, I have had lots of these weird sensations," he told the Irish Independent. "They said it could be possible that I was having mini-episodes that blocked me from going harder in the sprints. What happened with me was that the top two chambers were beating twice as fast as the bottom two.

"I was getting 30 or 40% less flow, so when I went into sprints, I’d go to sprint and I’d have to sit down, which kind of matches up, but I won’t know if it was that until I start racing again."

As for this season, Bennett said: "My first target is to hit a high enough level to be competing again. If I’m doing that, then, for sure, I’d love to ride one [a Grand Tour] again. But I don’t want to waste people’s time anymore. I’ve been given a lifeline with this team. It’s all or nothing this year and I’m all in."

Tom Pidcock is to begins his season in Spain at the Vuelta a Murcia next month, as part of a 12-race spring programme.

The 26-year-old, in his second season at Pinarello Q36.5, is to take part in three races in Spain in February before Omloop Nieuwsblad on Opening Weekend.

He will then switch to Italy for Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo before riding the Volta a Catalunya in March. His spring will conclude with the hilly Classics, ending at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the "primary objective".

Pinarello Q36.5 are eligible for invites to all WorldTour races this year, mainly thanks to points earned by Pidcock in 2025, and so do not have to wait to be given wildcard invites by race organisers. It is expected that the team, and Pidcock, will line up at the Tour de France in July, but this is yet to be confirmed. He finished third at the Vuelta a España last year, his best ever Grand Tour result.

"My schedule stays quite similar to previous years," Pidcock said in a press release. "But adding in some new races to keep things fresh. But also to give time to training blocks and periodisation to make sure I am ready for the races that matter most."

Last year, Pidcock rode the AlUla Tour and the Ruta del Sol ahead of Omloop, and then rode Tirreno-Adriatico between Strade and San Remo.

In 2026, the Yorkshireman will ride Murcia, which becomes a two-stage race for the first time since 2020, before the one-day race Clásica Jaén. Jaén, a similar race to Strade with gravel sectors, is only in its fifth year, but has boasted Tadej Pogačar and Michał Kwiatkowski as winners in the past; Pidcock has never raced it.

The Pinarello Q36.5 rider will then taken on the Ruta del Dol for the second year in a row. He won stage two there last year, and finished third overall. February concludes at Omloop, where Pidcock's best result is fifth in five attempts.

March begins at Strade Bianche, where Pidcock won in 2023 and finished second behind Pogačar last year, before Milan-Turin and then Milan-San Remo. It will be a debut at the former, and the fifth time at the latter, where he has a best result of 11th.

It is then back to stage racing at the Volta a Catalunya, which Pidcock hasn't raced before, where he will face Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida, the two main contenders for the Giro d'Italia.

However, it is not more stage racing for Pidcock next, but hilly one-day Classics. His schedule sees him head to Brabantse Pijl, where he won in 2021, and then the Amstel Gold Race, where he won in 2024. He will then tackle La Flèche Wallone, where he finished third last year, before Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a race he has finished second in before.

Tom Pidcock's spring schedule

13-14 February: Vuelta Ciclista a la Región de Murcia
16 February: Clásica Jaén
18-22 February: Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol
28 February: Omloop Nieuwsblad
7 March: Strade Bianche
18 March: Milan-Turin
21 March: Milan-San Remo
23-29 March: Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
17 April: Brabantse Pijl
19 April: Amstel Gold Race
22 April: La Flèche Wallonne
26 April: Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Forget Tenerife and Mallorca, Tom Pidcock and his Pinarello-Q36.5 teammates are heading to South America for their pre-season altitude training camp this year.

Seven of the team’s riders, including Brits Pidcock, Fred Wright and Tom Gloag, will travel to Chile at the end of this week ahead of the 2026 road campaign.

In an interview with Belgian outlet Sporza, Pinarello-Q36.5 sports director Kurt Bogaerts explained the country was a “well-considered choice” by the team.

“It all has to do with the climate,” Bogaerts, Pidcock’s long-term coach, said. “The weather is beautiful there and it's a new environment."

January is typically sunny and dry in the mountains of northern Chile, where the team will be based for nearly a month, with temperatures between 20-30°C.

Teams tend to visit European locations for their pre-season camps; Spain and the Canary Islands are popular choices.

Asked why Pinarello-Q36.5 have opted to go further afield, Bogaerts said: "In the Sierra Nevada [southern Spain], for example, there was a huge amount of snow this winter. You have to drive down to the valley every day, and that's not exactly fun either."

He added that Tenerife was also ruled out because “most riders have already seen Mount Teide from the inside and out. You have to cycle up that same climb every time, which makes it mentally tough."

Alongside Pidcock, Gloag and Wright, three Belgian riders will be part of the trip to Chile – Brent Van Moer, Xandro Meurisse and Quinten Hermans – as well as Swiss rider Fabio Christen.

"Tom [Pidcock] was the first to raise his hand. He even pushed me even harder to get it done,” Bogaerts told Sporza.

According to the sports director, the Olympic mountain bike champion has also asked to bring off-road tyres so he can stray from the tarmac.

“We've been working on performance at a high level all season long. But sometimes we forget that it also has to be fun. That's why I'm happy to hear that the riders are looking forward to that altitude training camp,” Bogaerts said.

As one of the top-ranked UCI ProTeams, Pinarello-Q36.5 are expected to gain automatic invitations to all three Grand Tours this season, including the Tour de France, and all other WorldTour events. Last year, the team earned its highest ever Grand Tour result thanks to Pidcock’s third place at the Vuelta a España.

Pinarello-Q36.5 are owned by South African billionaire Ivan Glasenberg, who holds significant investments in the brands Pinarello and Q36.5.

Tom Pidcock will have a British GC teammate with the same first name at Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling next season – and the new Tom is determined to follow in Pidcock’s wheel tracks and turn flashes of brilliance into consistent brilliance.

For the past three years Thomas Gloag has been riding for Visma-Lease a Bike, and the Londonder made an immediate impression with sixth place on GC in his debut race, the 2023 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. He then went on to ride and complete the Giro d’Italia as an eleventh hour call-up

A training ride crash in August 2023, however, shattered his right kneecap, and he didn’t return to competition until 11 months later. When he did, he won a stage of the Czech Tour just three days into his return, but then a fractured elbow derailed him once again. 2025 passed by with 58 race days but only a modicum of success.

It was decided that a change of environment was needed to further the 24-year-old’s career. “I had a fantastic time at Visma and there were some conversations [about staying] but they were quite clear on what they could offer me,” Gloag told Cycling Weekly.

“They have so many fantastic riders, and I think jumping across to Q36.5, a growing team that should race all three Grand Tours next year, was a better option for me.”

Gloag will not only team up once again with Pidcock who he raced with for Trinity Racing in 2020, but also with fellow VC Londres graduate Fred Wright, and his former coach Kurt Bogaerts who is now the Swiss team’s head of performance.

“Kurt stuck his neck out for me and that meant a lot,” Gloag revealed. “He and the people around him are really smart and it ended up being an easy decision.”

Reflecting on his time with Visma, Gloag said: “The best description for it is up and down. The crash that took me out for a year wasn’t ideal, but it was the best place in the world to learn the ropes because at Visma you get a masterclass in how to be a pro cyclist.

“There’s so much emphasis on the latest cutting edge thing, but the reality is the sexy stuff that is exciting to read about doesn’t contribute to a significantly better performance. The basics are 95% of the sport.

“Visma are really good at the not so sexy stuff, and it’s been the best place to learn those characteristics and traits that have become habits and will hopefully set me up for a long time in the pro peloton.”

Gloag was typically honest when analysing how he can improve in the coming years. “This last season and in 2023, I started quite strongly and finished well, but between March and September I wasn’t as competitive,” he said.

“To be off that top level for six months is a long time, and I want to be at that top level throughout the year, not just in a few small windows.

“I have to be honest and say I’ve always struggled with volume. When I went to an altitude camp with Visma in 2023, I was by far and away the worst rider. That’s probably because I’m not as trained as my age suggests – when I was a second year junior I only averaged 10 hours a week because I was more focused on school.

“My ability to handle volume has never been very good, and it’s always been my Achilles’ heel. Hopefully riding for over 900 hours this year will have boosted my physical base.”

Largely because of Pidcock’s success in 2025 that included a podium finish at the Vuelta a España, Q36.5 have secured guaranteed wildcard entries to all WorldTour events next season, including all the Grand Tours.

“I’d love to go back to a Grand Tour and it would be great to ride one at a decent level, but I’m not bothered whether it’s the Giro or a Crystal Palace crit, the main thing I want to do is ride my bike fast more consistently and be at the front of races,” Gloag said. “The goal is clear: to be at the back less and at the front more.”

As we hit January, it is more than the time for pro cycling teams to release their new kits for 2026. For some, this is the best part of the year, before the reality of racing gets involved, when we can just imagine how good the jerseys will look on the road.

Rather than writing up each team individually, we thought it would work better if we collated them together, unless someone does something mad. When all the kits are out, we can do our usual arbitrary evaluation of them too, so do look out for that. In this guide, we will cover all the WorldTour teams, and notable other squads, but not all, otherwise it will get a bit overwhelming, apart from particular exceptions.

If you would rather find out which team riders will be appearing for next year, rather than what they will be wearing, you can find that on our comprehensive transfer guide for 2026 too.

Teams have also changed names – Israel-Premier Tech to NSN Cycling, Alpecin-Deceuninck to Alpecin-Premier Tech, and Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale to Decathlon CMA CGM and more – so that will have an impact on the kits too.

While teams will have tried to keep the fresh designs under wraps, a few have leaked into the public domain. However, this list will only have confirmed designs. So far, those who are fans of garish outfits should be pleased.

So far, we are only certain of a few kits for next season, but more will appear in the coming weeks or days. We'll update this as we go!

Picnic PostNL

If I were to play spot the difference, I would be hard pushed with the 2026 Picnic PostNL kit. It remains navy and orange, with the 'Keep Challenging' stripes, and the name is the same too. There are a couple of new sponsors on there, and this is apparently different, but that's it.

As the press release says: "Clear and vibrant amongst the colourful peloton: fans, commentators and pundits alike won’t have to re-adjust for the 2026 campaign as they can expect to see the two orange stripes from those helicopter shots on even the foggiest of days."

Pinarello-Q36.5

It's a continuation of navy for the renamed Pinarello-Q36.5, but no white sleeves this year. Instead, this smart jersey is fully navy, with fancy gold accents. The bikes don't look bad either...

According to Q36.5's founder, Luigi Bergamo: "The new jersey design evolves the visual language we began developing last season to reflect the Italian values of premium, daring, design that we share with Pinarello.

"The result is a kit that allows our riders to feel, from the very first moment they pull on the kit, that they are part of something special and unique: the only team in the professional peloton founded and powered by Italian technical partners. We can’t wait to see this jersey (and our iconic Dottore bib shorts!) racing sharp at the front of the bunch."

Jayco AlUla and Liv AlUla Jayco

MAAP entered WorldTour cycling with their Jayco AlUla and Liv AlUla Jayco kits, and have stuck to their theme from 2025 with this purple – sorry, "Aurora" – jersey, paired with dark grey shorts.

The new addition is the flame motif, which stretches to the socks, which is a bit of fun.

MAAP's creative director, Misha Glisovic, said: "MAAP has always been driven to push the boundaries. It’s core to who we are and how we see our place in the sport. We want to use design to broaden the appeal of pro cycling, nudging the sport towards something more stylish and aspirational. Ultimately, we want to be true to our values at MAAP, and GreenEDGE shares this vision."

Human Powered Health

Women's WorldTour squad Human Powered Health have partnered with Verge Sport for their new kit. The new design keeps the orange/red/purple that we have become used to for the team, but in a new pattern, which is called 'Tailwind'. It's designed "to embody speed, motion, and momentum".

The press release says the jersey has a "rich, sweeping warm-to-cool colour gradient that represents Human Powered Health’s Pillars of Performance". It'll be paired with black shorts.

Lotto-Intermarché

The newly merged Lotto-Intemarché go with the red of Lotto for 2026. The kit is a dark-ish red, paired with black shorts, and there isn't really too much more to say about it. It's smart!

According to the statement: "In terms of colour, both main sponsors, Intermarché and Lotto, were already allies: their brand colours red and black dominate the design. The meaningful, subtle fingerprint pattern further strengthens the bold look."

Bahrain Victorious

Bahrain Victorious have been red, orange, purple, and white, but never blue. That changes in 2026, when the team, now riding Bianchi bikes, will be in navy blue with teal sleeves.

The press release reveals deeper meanings: "At the heart of the kit sits a deep navy, a colour that has been part of the team’s identity since its foundation. Subtly woven into the design is a faint “X” that crosses the jersey, the Roman numeral representing ten years in the sport.

"On the sleeves of the jersey, Bianchi’s iconic Celeste is distinctly featured, perfectly matching the shallow blue waters and teal tones that represent Bahrain’s two seas."

Visma-Lease a Bike

The men and women of Visma-Lease a Bike will continue in yellow for 2026, wearing a kit made by Nimbl, who are more known for their cycling shoes.

According to Francesco Matrone, graphic designer at Nimbl: "In a WorldTour context, design must be essential, intentional, and instantly recognizable. One of our key goals was to create a visual identity that's identifiable at speed and reflects performance and clarity. It must be unmistakably Visma-Lease a Bike. Every graphic element is functional, integrated, and designed to perform under pressure.”

EF Pro Cycling

EF Education–EasyPost and EF Education–Oatly will remain pink next year, but have switched kit suppliers from Rapha to Assos.

Assos says the 2026 kit reflects a "forward-looking mindset" with a "bold colour palette" that evolves EF Pro Cycling’s unmistakable visual identity while introducing "a new, almost other-worldly energy to the peloton."

The silver bits are fun, and pink is always good to me – I just wonder what's going to happen when the Giro d'Italia comes around.

Alpecin-Premier Tech and Fenix-Premier Tech

It's a brand new name for Alpecin-Premier Tech and Fenix-Premier Tech – no more Deceuninck – but not a completely new kit, with similar vibes for the WorldTour and Women's WorldTour teams. The men's team has a kit made by Kalas, which is the same blue as before, more or less, but with a bit more of a light grading across the chest.

The women's team, meanwhile, wear a kit made by Alé, which is pretty similar to the orange of 2025, and there doesn't seem to be the green and blue options from before.

Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto

Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto are usually found in a bold, colourful kit, and next season is no different. This is Luminous, designed by Mckenzie Sampson and made by Canyon. It takes a dark purple base and merges it with turquoise, pink, coral and red.

Sampson said: "I’ve always found Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto to be an aspiring light within the peloton. They’re a team that gives a unique platform to a diverse set of riders across the globe to get their big break in cycling. To visually illustrate that sense of light and hope, we wanted the kit design to be bold yet convey the right balance of contrasting light, unique patterns, and rich saturated moments of colour."

AG Insurance-Soudal

AG Insurance-Soudal have mostly the same kit as their brother team Soudal Quick-Step, just with different sponsors. There is a new logo, too: Datashift, a Belgian leader in data solutions and strategy.

It's a blue base, with green accents across, with a white band across the chest for AG Insurance.

Ineos Grenadiers

There was rumour and speculation that it might happen, but now it is official... Ineos Grenadiers will be wearing WHITE yes WHITE shorts next season. Well, it's technically 'light grey', but come on.

Orange is the main colour on the jersey for the first time, after various blues and reds, but it is the white that stands out. It's as striking, if not more so, as AG2R's famous brown shorts, and we wonder how the riders are feeling about it...

The press release says: "The design was created with a clear purpose: immediate recognition. The exclusive use of this orange ensures a striking presence in the peloton, while the white panels on the lower sections add balance and clarity, allowing the leading colour to shine with harmonious strength. The result is a sophisticated, functional and memorable kit."

Apparently: "Orange is the new uniqueness. Orange is the new icon." Read our opinion on it here.

Soudal Quick-Step

It's evolution not revolution for Soudal Quick-Step in 2026, who have a similar kit to this season, but green rather than white as the accent colour, along with the classic blue.

According to the team: "The new design incorporates a vivid electric-lime element, a deliberate move inspired by the Shine for Safety visibility campaign launched during this year’s Ardennes Classics."

There is a lot more green on the back, which will help them stand out, apparently. It's a nice wavy pattern. The kit is designed and made by Castelli.

FDJ United-SUEZ

If you're thinking "I've seen this kit before", you would be right. FDJ United-SUEZ will be wearing their 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift kit full-time next year. It's largely black, with an explosion of red and blue on the chest.

The press release says about the Gobik kit: "The jersey reflects the unseen hours of the sport: training sessions before dawn, rides in the rain, the fear and doubts of a jour sans. In contrast, a vivid halo of light rises on the chest, symbolising the inner spark that transforms sacrifice into brilliance at the moment of victory.

Demi Vollering won't be in this kit, given the Dutchwoman is European champion.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG

UAE Team Emirates-XRG rarely mix the colour palette up too much, and 2026 will be no different – it's largely white, with black and red trim, but it definitely has changed since last season.

The Pissei kit, handcrafted at the brand's Italian Custom Lab, has some fun geometric patterns on the stormach of the jersey, with black on the arms too. Don't expect to see Tadej Pogačar in this one, however, considering he is world champion.

Movistar

It's a second year in a row in white for Movistar, who have ditched the navy box across the chest for this cleaner offering. There is the classic M on the front, and some accents across the rest of the front.

Apparently: "Gobik sought a futuristic aesthetic, an evolution that projects innovation and performance on a white base. Technological textures, iridescent graphics and subtle transparencies were combined to create a striking design that reflects the identity and avant-garde spirit of the team." Avant-garde. Right.

Lidl-Trek

Lidl-Trek's kit is different. Definitely. There's less red on the front, more blue, and there's a new sponsor on the front, but it is, essentially, the same as last year. There's nothing wrong with that! It's a good kit! "Our favourite colours" is what the team said. Keep it simple. The men and women use the same kit, which is good.

The team say: "With a fresh twist on a fan-favorite design, Santini have delivered again with the 2026 Lidl-Trek kit. Pairing the ultimate fabrics with playful colours, the latest design delivers looks as well as performance."

Decathlon CMA CGM

Sadly, there's no exciting bumf to go with the new Decathlon CMA CGM kit, but with a new name comes a new colour - red. The brown shorts are sadly still in the dustbin of history, with new sponsors CMA CGM bringing the new colour. One sleeve is still teal (?) while the other is a lot darker, rather than the dark blue it was before.

Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe

Now, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's kit is yet to be officially announced, but seeing as all the riders in the plane stunt were wearing a new kit, let's assume this is the new one for 2026. It's a lot whiter than before, with royal blue sleeves, and less navy. It is similar to the special kit they used at the Tour de France this season.

SD Worx-Protime

SD Worx-Protime have veered away from the purple and pinks of recent years, and instead will race in this primary colour-heavy jersey which is called "New Dawn"

It's designed by Specialized, and is paired with black shorts. Notably, Lotte Kopecky will be racing in it, no longer being world, European, or Belgian champion, for once.

According to the press release: "The new jersey reflects the team’s and sponsors’ ongoing drive for innovation. Standing still is not an option – continuously reinventing ourselves in every aspect is a core value at SD Worx-Protime. The new design symbolises our rich history through the spark, now multiplied and displayed in various shades. This emphasises the team’s slogan: we spark success."

NSN Cycling

The team formerly known as Israel-Premier Tech have become NSN Cycling, and will be wearing a busy kit next season, with a base of sky blue and orange. The jury is out over whether this will be easy to notice or to lose in the peloton. They're also riding Scott bikes now.

If you want to know why it looks like this, the press release says: "It's designed by Stijn Dossche of stycle.design, is inspired by the Mediterranean city from which the team’s new identity has been forged.

"Its design blends geometry, colour blocks, and patterns reminiscent of contemporary Barcelona - a city that never stands still, where tradition meets modernity, where Mediterranean light becomes art, and movement becomes identity."

Just in time for the Tour de France Grand Départ in July, then – that's in Barça.

Groupama-FDJ United

Another new name, though less dramatic, is Groupama-FDJ United. The French stalwarts are slow to change their kits, normally, and the same is true next year. It's the fetching number they wore at this year's Tour, although it's now made by Bioracer rather than Alé. Essentially, it's royal blue with a red accent sleeve.

Cofidis

Cofidis are another French team barely changing their kit for 2026. The men's and women's teams, now both ProTeams, will use the same red and yellow jersey as this season, although the shades might have been slightly altered, and the sponsors have moved around a bit.