Would love to know how many Pinarello MTBs they’ve actually sold off the back of those 2 Olympic golds. My guess is not many - I’m not particularly into MTBing but my offroad friends don’t even mention Pinarello, our LBS which sells a lot of road Dogmas and also sells MTBs doesn’t even seem to sell the Dogma MTB, and both Pidcock and Ferrand-Prevot seem to be turning their focus onto the road for next season. Feels like a bit of a coincidental one off and not part of a play to build market share in the MTB industry.
1 Like
I would have an issue with him were I paying for his salary. Not the case and I’m actually pretty sure he’s a very nice guy outside pro cycling.
In terms of preferences (which have nothing to do with the topic) I always root against Ineos since they were Team Sky. And I’m a Trinity fan. So yeah, good divination skills there. Maybe next time.
OK, good talk.
Moving on.
Question…. Why are road cyclists paid so much more than other disciplines?
Viewership
Sponsors pay more based on visibility and road, as a discipline, is by far the largest and most visible to the general population
3 Likes
Yeah it’s because the viewership is higher and therefore more money is in the sport. XC and other forms of Mountainbiking is relatively niche especially the competition side.
Pidcock already said he wants to focus more on road after the olympics, The only reason to keep him of the Lombardia Squad was if he is really on his way out and even then it’s a petty move that just hurts the team… Yeah ineos is paying him a lot p
but to be realistic he is probably the only guy on their roster that can win Raxes like Strade, Amstel and podium a Monument (Maybe Ganna can get a Roubaix podium). And currently it doesn’t look like they are in a spot where they can get big riders without overpaying. The Team seems disfunctional and as a rider I would need a pretty big premium to go to them.
I agree with the Pidcock analysis and the fact that Ineos is in a mess, but it’s worth pointing out that Ganna already has an MSR podium, and Kwiato has won it, albeit some time ago (as well as a World title, Amstel, E3, Strade and some TdF stages). He’s a classy rider who can still podium (and win) a big race on his day, but he’s also a much much better domestique than Pidcock!
1 Like
Interesting read here. Basically the suggestion is that Pidcock wants to be on a team where he’s the main and undisputed leader and that he can bend to his will. To me this feels like a bad move, as I feel like he’d benefit from some humility and self-reflection, but I guess we’ll see how it goes for him.
4 Likes
At the end of the day, Pidcock is gonna Pidcock.
Q36.5 is going to get a fair amount of pub from the MTB and CX side, but think they are gonna be disappointed by the road side. They still need to rely on organizer invites and Pidcock isn’t enough of a draw to get into the GT’s (and arguably even some of the biggest one-day races).
Maybe Scott will put a % and let him focus more on the MTB side.
He’s been doing pretty well on MTB, so why go crazy to dispute with the Pogacar, MVDP, Remco, etc on the road?
He’ll make a road salary riding everything. Ask doesn’t hurt. He can ask, if someone is willing to pay for his proposal, why not?
Also, he might be seeing something inside Ineos that we don’t. Even with the good budget, their results lately aren’t something to be proud of.
There are certainly two different issues at play…but there is a fair amount of overlap, as well.
First, Pidcock is only concerned about Pidcock. While everyone is to a certain degree, on a road team, you gotta know when it is time to do the work for the team. Unchained showed pretty clearly that Pidcock isn’t interested in that…at least not when it conflicts with his own ambitions. A lot of that may stem from his CX and MTB background, where the lone rider is the only concern.
Second, Ineos has lost the plot as an organization. Key players continue to flee…and not just riders. When guys like Dan Bingham are bolting for the door and being heavily critical on the way out, something is way off. Add in Luke Rowe going to Decathlon of all teams for a DS spot, etc.
So Tom sees the disfunction, and more importantly, feels the disfunction. Limited support for him and none in the GTs, despite him claiming he can ride for the GC (Narrator: No, he can’t), etc.
Net result - Pidcock needs to leave Ineos.
2 Likes
I agree.
I’d add that the talkings about his personality is based on a TV show, a few interviews, and media appearances. We (I at least) don’t know if he is really that way. He might, or might not.
Forgot to add this:
Q36.5 is the successor to general manager Doug Ryder’s previous efforts in the upper echelons of pro cycling, most recently the Qhubeka squad. That team folded at the end of 2021 in thoroughly unglamorous circumstances involving co-sponsor NextHash, a cryptocurrency company with a complicated financial history and a pattern of questionable business practices.
That would not fill me with confidence, if I was a top tier rider. This organization has always flirted with imminent demise due to shoestring budgets. Its viability is continually in question and I would be seriously concerned about long-term stability.
1 Like
Even with all sparks, I wouldn’t change Ineos for Q36.5. It seems a crazy move from my desk. But hey, what do I know?
Their relationship cracked (Inneos x Pidcock), I just hope for a good move to the sport as I think he’s a hell of a rider and I like to see him racing. I don’t care if he’s the most narcist person that the sun warms.
100%…these moves rarely work out. Look at Sagan going to Direct Energies, Froome to Israel - Premier Tech, etc.
The difference here is that such moves usually come at the end of a rider’s career, not when they are still so young.
1 Like
I think he’s seen what MvDP has done at Alpecin, who were not a big team when he joined, and wants something similar. There was a time when MvDP must have had huge offers from bigger teams and stayed put. I’ve no idea how it’ll play out but it must factor in his thinking.
1 Like
Noted in the EC article that the owner of Q36.5 is reportedly also owner of Pinarello. So there’s some speculation Q36.5 will be on Pinarellos next year. Unclear I guess whether they’ll pull sponsorship from Ineos (who, to be fair, are not exactly crushing it) or just add Q36.5.
To be fair I think this is the most the cycling world has talked about Q36.5 (awful, awful brand name BTW), so this is certainly getting that team some publicity. They have a rich owner who wants SOMETHING TO HAPPEN ASAP, and guessing Pidcock is the highest profile rider they could sign. Works out for both parties, Q36.5 raises their profile, Pidcock gets a team he can control.
3 Likes
Froome accepts that he is no longer a contender…wow, it has been 5 years, Chris. What was your first clue? 
1 Like
Same.
2 Likes
Pidcock transfer may not happen now…what a circus.
Also, very sad news about Chris Hoy…Stage 4 prostate cancer and his wife was also diagnosed with a severe form of MS. That one hits a little close to home for me.
3 Likes