Tom Pidcock says Ineos Grenadiers will be 'better' at the Tour de France without Steve Cummings
Netflix series depicted tension between the DS and rider, dynamic sources told Cycling Weekly carries a degree of accuracy
Tom Pidcock has said that Ineos Grenadiers will be "better" without the team’s director of racing, Steve Cummings, at this year’s Tour de France, after he was surprisingly left at home.
Despite Cummings' senior role in the team he has not travelled to the Grand Départ in Florence. Instead, Zak Dempster will be the British team's lead DS, supported by second DS Xavier Zandio Echaide.
Cummings' absence has come as a shock after he was instrumental in assembling the eight-man Ineos squad and race strategy.
A spokesperson for Ineos Grenadiers confirmed to Cycling Weekly that Cummings would be "supporting Zak and the team remotely" once the three-week Grand Tour begins on Saturday.
Pidcock told Cycling Weekly at the race's team presentation on Thursday evening that he felt Cummings absence would have no effect on the team. "I don’t think it’ll have an impact," Pidcock said. "Things change, it’s not really for me to comment."
He then went on to say that the team would be "better" without the former British champion, when asked if he thought things would be the same.
Viewers of the recent Tour de France: Unchained Netflix series spotted tension between the pair when discussing rider leadership duties at last year's race.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
On Wednesday, Pidcock joked about the "bad guy" portrayal of him in the series, dismissing it as "drama."
Cycling Weekly understands from sources close to the team that the depiction of the relationship by the Netflix cameras did have some degree of accuracy. Sources also suggested that Pidcock has a big say in major decision making on the team.
John Allert, the team's CEO, said that there was "nothing to add" to the story and that he would not be drawn on the reasons behind Cummings' absence. He repeated the team's line that the DS will be supporting the squad remotely during the race.
"Steve’s still working on the Tour, he’s just not at the Tour," the Australian said. "He’s feeding stuff in, he’s part of a team, we’ve got a team of coaches and DSs and he’s obviously an important part of that."
However, Dempster said that he felt it would be difficult for the former Tour stage winner to play a big part in decisions from afar.
"I think that’s impossible," Dempster said. "For the moment I am the lead DS here and it’ll be me managing the race on behalf of the performance team. But for sure, he will have an input and he’s done a really good job building this journey so far and we go on with it."
Dempster went on to say that he had found out he would lead the team more than "a couple of weeks ago", but other reports have suggested that the decision was in fact only taken less than a week before the Tour began.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2022 and his news stories, rider interviews and features appear both online and in the magazine.
Since joining the team, he has reported from some of professional cycling's biggest races and events including the Tour de France and the World Championships in Glasgow. He has also covered major races elsewhere across the world. As well as on the ground reporting, Tom writes race reports from the men's and women's WorldTour and focuses on coverage of UK domestic cycling.
-
TV coverage of a bike race can leave you with a strange impression of a country
TV footage is deceptive so choose your illusion wisely
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel dominates in Leuven to win Gravel World Championships
The Dutchman adds another World Championship title to his palmarès as he solos to victory in the Flemish Brabant
By Joseph Lycett Published
-
Alpe d'Huez, Mont Ventoux, and all the route rumours for the 2025 Tour de France
Here's where the peloton may be heading next July
By Tom Davidson Published
-
How Tadej Pogačar created history and claimed cycling's Triple Crown of the Giro-Tour-Worlds
A journey that was supposedly fraught with risk and uncertainty was anything but for Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and World Championships victor Tadej Pogačar
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'You don't need to be 100% to win the Worlds, it can be a bit of a lottery' - Tom Pidcock gambles for success at World Championships
British rider says that he doesn't think this year will be the year, but anything could happen in Zürich
By Adam Becket Published
-
Remco Evenepoel puts transfer speculation to bed ahead of World Championships road race
'I'll stay where I am' says Double Olympic champion as he confirms he will remain at Soudal Quick-Step next season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Pogačar mania takes hold in Canada with 2026 Montréal World Championships on the horizon
Organiser of GP Québec and Montréal gearing up for Worlds returning to North America in 2026
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Simon Yates says he took a pay cut in order to join Visma-Lease a Bike
32-year-old says it was now or never as he gets set to leave Jayco AIUla after eleven years
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tadej Pogačar misses out on GP Québec win on return to WorldTour action
Slovenian finishes seventh in first race back since third Tour de France victory
By Tom Thewlis Published
-