Pidcock plots Monument assault with focused spring campaign

The Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team rider will race the Vuelta a la Región de Murcia on 13-14 February, followed by Clásica Jaén and the Vuelta a Andalucía. Pidcock won a stage and finished third overall at the Vuelta a Andalucía in 2025. His February schedule concludes with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on 28 February.

March includes Strade Bianche on 7 March, where Pidcock won in 2023 but finished second to Tadej Pogačar last year after a thrilling finale, during which Pidcock appeared to be on his way to glory at one point. He will then race Milano-Torino, Milano-Sanremo, and the Volta a Catalunya from 23-29 March.

The Ardennes block begins with De Brabantse Pijl on 17 April, which Pidcock won in 2021. The Amstel Gold Race follows on 19 April – a race he won in 2024, finishing third the year prior. He placed ninth at last year's edition in his first year in pastures new after Pidcock departed from the British team, Ineos. La Flèche Wallonne is scheduled for 22 April before Liège-Bastogne-Liège on 26 April.

Pidcock finished second at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2023, his best result at any of cycling's five Monuments. He has yet to win a Monument in his career so far.

"My schedule stays quite similar to previous years. But adding in some new races to keep things fresh. But also to give time to training blocks and periodisation to make sure I am ready for the races that matter most," Pidcock said.

The programme represents a more focused approach compared to previous seasons when Pidcock combined road racing with mountain bike commitments and Grand Tour participation. The 26-year-old won Olympic mountain bike gold in Tokyo 2021 and has competed in multiple Grand Tours during his career.

The Ardennes Classics are expected to, as usual, feature strong competition from Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel, all of whom have won Monument races in recent seasons.

Pidcock's 2026 Grand Tour appearances are yet to be known. Pidcock will be aiming to build on the solid general classification foundations after he achieved a career high third place in the GC at the 2025 Vuelta a España.