LONDON — Tom Pidcock closed out the 2026 season with a career-best fifth place in the UCI rankings, leading Pinarello Q36.5 to their best campaign yet as they finished as the 12th-best team in the world. As a ProTeam, the Swiss outfit punched well above their weight to out-rank six of the 18 WorldTour teams, winning nine races in total — including Eddie Dunbar's stunning stage victory at the Vuelta a España and five victories for Pidcock, including Milano-Torino and a stage of the Tour of the Alps.
The British leader also finished a narrow second at Milan-San Remo behind Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and ninth overall at the Tour de France, continuing his growth as a consistent stage racer. With further top-10 results at Strade Bianche, Il Lombardia, GP de Quebec, GP de Montreal, Tour of Guangxi and the World Championships road race, Pidcock scored fewer UCI points than only Pogačar, Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM). "Tom finishing fifth in the world, the highest ranking of his career, is another exceptional milestone," said Team Principal Doug Ryder on Pinarello Q36.5's website. "He is one of the most talented athletes in cycling, and his achievements reflect both his extraordinary ability and the environment we are building around our riders to help them perform at their very best."
"Finishing 12th in the world is an outstanding achievement and a defining moment for our organisation. We are a UCI ProTeam competing against the very best teams in professional cycling, and this result demonstrates the strength of our vision, the quality of our people and the progress we have made together," said Ryder. "What makes me particularly proud is that this achievement reflects the commitment, professionalism and belief of every rider, every member of staff and every partner who contributes to this project. We have built a culture where ambition is matched by hard work, where innovation drives performance and where every individual understands their responsibility towards our collective success."
At 27, Pidcock will lead Pinarello Q36.5 for a third successive year in 2027, with major reinforcements arriving to support him. Giulio Ciccone, Mauro Schmid, Ethan Hayter and AJ August are four of 10 new signings for next season as the team look to build on four seasons of growth since becoming Q36.5, with Ryder crediting a culture of innovation and responsibility for their rise.
Pidcock scored more than four times more UCI points than Quinten Hermans — the next highest scorer on Pinarello Q36.5 — a similar multiplier to how much he outscored his next best teammate in 2025. With Schmid and Ciccone in particular joining, the Brit will have other big-name riders capable of leading at one-day races and Grand Tours, easing pressure on his shoulders and ensuring he has more support in the finales of the biggest races.