'I’d pick the Tour' - Giddings targets Grand Tour debut as lead-out role grows at Lotto Intermarché

Giddings first appeared on Lotto’s radar in mid-2022 while he was part of British Cycling’s under-23 track programme in Manchester. With the federation scaling back the U23 Nations Cup calendar for 2023, riders were urged to seek road teams. “It was quite difficult because it was short notice,” Giddings said to Domestique. 

“I actually knew Cherie [Pridham] who worked at the team at the time. She helped me get a place there and the team gave me a chance. I didn’t really have many results, just results from the track… I was quite lucky to get a spot.”

His first taste of the pro scene came in 2023 with a late call-up to the Tour of Denmark, before a split 2024 campaign between Lotto’s WorldTour outfit and the development team. “It was really an invaluable experience,” he said. “Under-23 is almost no control, and full gas. In a pro race, the break goes, the team controls and you have to choose when you do your efforts, which was pretty much just learning how to be a pro rider, doing my job and getting as much experience as possible.”

Giddings believes three full U23 seasons eased the jump. “A lot of guys now, they’re juniors and then they turn professional… going from 120km to 200km,” he said. “I definitely found it helpful with the balance programme. It made my step to pro level much easier and less of a shock.”

Last spring brought a rapid classics baptism after an early setback. “My first race as a pro I broke my collarbone… That took me out for five weeks,” he said. His comeback began with a late call to Milan-San Remo, then Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Scheldeprijs. 

“I did three Monuments in three weeks in my first two months as a pro,” he said, calling Flanders “incredible” and Roubaix “insane, the Forest [of Arenberg] is crazy how the cobbles are laid out.” 

Looking ahead to what awaits in 2026, the British Nationals time trial is on his radar, but the big personal target is a first Grand Tour. “I’d like to do a Grand Tour this year… that’s the next step,” he said. “You can’t train that, racing every day for 21 days in the legs.” 

If he could choose, there’s no doubt about which Grand Tour he'd choose. “I’d pick the Tour… to ride down the Champs-Élysées is probably the most special thing for me.” While the Vuelta is often seen as a softer landing, Giddings noted the rising level across all three Grand Tours: “Any chance I can get, I’ll take it. I’d just really like to do one.”

With Lotto Intermarché now positioned to target all three Grand Tours, selection opportunities abound. “Coming into this year… I knew I’d probably have to do a Grand Tour,” he said. “Just getting into the mindset, I wanted to do one anyway. We’ll have to see which one.”