21 things you didn't know about Tom Pidcock

Tom Pidcock is one of the most talked about and most exciting bike racers currently operating in the professional ranks.

Pidcock’s star quality has been clear to see since he climbed on a bike, but he first came to attention when he won gold in the XCO mountain bike event at the Tokyo Olympics. His promise rose even higher in 2022 when he landed a Tour de France stage victory on the famous Alpe d’Huez climb.

Since then, the Yorkshire-born rider won Strade Bianche in impressive style, and has continued to thrive in all three disciplines he competes in, the road, mountain bike and cyclo-cross. He successfully defended his Olympic MTB title in Paris, but his season ended in controversy after he was "deselected" for Il Lombardia. This resulted in him leaving Ineos Grenadiers for Q36.5.

1. Before moving to the professional ranks, Pidcock won world titles at junior and under 23 level in all three disciplines he competes in.

2. Pidcock has a sausage dog called Chestnut, who has been pictured giving the Yorkshireman a celebratory lick after many of his recent cycling exploits.

3. His first ever race came at the age of seven on the Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire.

4. Pidcock's first success in a race came with a victory in the British National Youth Road series in Scarborough when he was 14.

5. The 23-year old claims that he's never experienced a hangover! According to Pidcock, he's only had alcohol a few times in his life.

6. His favourite climb in his home county of Yorkshire is the Otley Chevin.

7. After a powerful solo attack on the Carrefour de l'Arbre, Pidcock won Paris-Roubaix juniors in 2017.

8. As well as all of his other bikes, Pidcock can ride a unicycle.

9. You will no doubt already know that he took mountain bike gold at the Olympics in 2021, although did you know he became European mountain bike champion a year later in Munich, Germany?

10. Prior to that famous win at the Tokyo Olympics, Pidcock broke his collarbone in early June 2021, less than two months before the race in Tokyo. Thanks to miraculous work from his surgeon, Pidcock was back on the bike in a matter of days.

11. Pidcock is one of the few pro cyclists to have a Red Bull contract, although he only wears it in his off-road stuff.

12. In March 2022, Pidcock signed a new contract with his current team which will keep him at Ineos until at least 2027. That was cut short in 2024, though.

13. Now at Q36.5, the 25-year-old will ride Scott bikes on the road, but Pinarello bikes off-road, and intriguing situation.

14. As well as alcohol, Pidcock also doesn't drink coffee.

15. His brother, Joe, is also a pro-cyclist and rode for his elder brother's old team, Trinity Racing.

16. At the last count, Pidcock has between 60 and 70 pairs of Oakley sunglasses, before Ineos were sponsored by SunGod. Now he's with Q36.5, he'll be wearing Scott models.

17. Pidcock had two of his teeth rebuilt after a heavy crash at the Tour de l'Avenir.

18. in 2023, Pidcock featured on the "Descent Disciples" YouTube channel, with an absolutely terrifying ride down Tuna Canyon in Los Angeles.

Descent Disciples ||Vol 13|| Tom Pidcock vs. The Fish - YouTube

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19. Pidcock's Father, Giles, is a former professional cyclist and still very active within the sport today.

20. He has an app available for smart phones called LinkMyRide, which Pidcock set up with a former teammate.

21. He renovated his house in Andorra last year, which is where he lives when not on the road.