Giulio Ciccone joins Pinarello Q36.5: Italian climber signs until 2029 and teams up with Tom Pidcock
Italian cyclist Giulio Ciccone will ride for Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team from January 1, 2027, joining the Swiss professional squad as it continues to significantly strengthen its roster ahead of the new season. On October 12, 2026, the team officially announced that it had signed the 31-year-old rider to a three-year contract running until December 31, 2029. The announcement confirms one of the more notable transfers in professional road cycling and marks the end of Ciccone's eight-year association with Lidl-Trek. His arrival is attracting particular attention because he will be racing alongside Britain's Tom Pidcock, one of the new team's key riders. Ciccone brings experience from the biggest stage races, results in demanding one-day classics and the ability to decide races on long climbs. For Pinarello Q36.5, he represents a signing that could transform the team's sporting capabilities, although its specific racing programmes and rider roles for 2027 have not yet been fully announced.
Parting ways with Lidl-Trek after eight seasons
His departure from Lidl-Trek was confirmed on October 9, three days before the announcement of his new contract. His former team stated at the time that both parties had mutually agreed to end their partnership after the 2026 season, without providing a detailed explanation of the circumstances surrounding the agreement. The same announcement indicated that Il Lombardia, held on October 10, would be Ciccone's final appearance in his previous team's colours. This sequence of events left only a brief period between his official farewell and confirmation of his new destination, during which cycling media had already been discussing Pinarello Q36.5. The Swiss team's announcement put an end to the speculation and confirmed that the new contract would take effect at the beginning of the next calendar year.
Ciccone joined the squad in 2019, when it was still competing under the Trek-Segafredo name, following an earlier spell with the Italian Bardiani-CSF team. Over eight years, he became known for his attacking performances on mountain stages and his willingness to take responsibility in demanding one-day races. In its farewell announcement, Lidl-Trek thanked the Italian for everything he had contributed to the team and wished him success in the next stage of his career. Neither the value of his new contract nor the financial terms of the agreement ending his previous partnership have been disclosed. Cyclingnews reports that the separation occurred before the previously agreed contract period had expired, but the precise terms and reasons for that arrangement have not been publicly clarified. Consequently, the official statements do not support the conclusion that any single sporting, financial or personal factor was decisive.
Third place at Il Lombardia as a farewell
His final race for Lidl-Trek ended with a result that once again demonstrated why Ciccone is regarded as one of the respected climbers in the professional peloton. At the October 10, 2026 edition of Il Lombardia, he finished third behind winner Paul Seixas and runner-up Enric Mas. According to his then team's race report, the route from Bergamo to Como covered 239 kilometres and included more than 4,600 metres of total climbing. Ciccone remained among the strongest riders through the decisive mountainous sections and secured a podium finish at one of cycling's five Monuments. It was his second top-three finish at Il Lombardia and, according to his own account, his third podium overall in races of this prestigious category. His farewell therefore had a distinctly competitive character, with no need to view the result solely through the story of his transfer.
Interestingly, his future teammate Tom Pidcock also competed in the same race, finishing sixth. According to Cyclingnews' analysis, both riders attempted at one point to respond to eventual winner Seixas' attack, demonstrating how well demanding race profiles suit them, but also how difficult it is to follow the strongest attacks on long climbs. Pidcock lost positions in the closing stages, while Ciccone managed to remain in contention for a podium finish. This is no guarantee of future success together, but it provides concrete sporting context for their partnership. Depending on decisions made by the sporting management, the two could have different tactical responsibilities in future races rather than always pursuing the same individual objective.
Three Giro stage victories and proven experience in cycling's biggest races
Ciccone's sporting record explains why his arrival carries greater significance than an ordinary team change. According to Pinarello Q36.5's official announcement, the Italian has won three stages at the Giro d'Italia and has also worn the best climber's jersey at the Tour de France. He claimed his first Giro stage victory in 2016, before moving to Trek, and added two more in 2019 and 2022. His ability to endure a long race and then attack on a decisive climb was crucial to those results. He particularly distinguished himself in 2023, when he won the polka-dot jersey awarded to the Tour de France's best climber. In a sport where victories at Grand Tours are often the product of prolonged teamwork, such achievements confirm that he can capitalise on opportunities even when he is not competing for the general classification.
His range of results is not limited to stages of major multiweek races. Pinarello Q36.5 highlighted his victory at the 2025 Clásica San Sebastián, an important one-day race with a course that rewards strong climbers. During the 2026 season, he also won a silver medal at the European Road Championships before finishing third at Il Lombardia. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, he secured silver in the closing stages of the European race after an extremely close contest, further demonstrating his ability to compete against elite opponents. His strengths are particularly evident when races break into smaller groups, when judging the right moment to attack is crucial and when the finale demands repeated major efforts. It is precisely on such courses that his new team can count on his ability to deliver results independently.
The 2026 Giro added another dimension to his career, as he once again won the mountains classification. This achievement should not be confused with winning the overall classification of the three-week race: it is a separate competition in which points are awarded on categorised climbs. Nevertheless, it is an important indicator of his continued competitiveness in the mountains for his new team. Ciccone knows how to identify stages suitable for breakaways, conserve energy and compete in a variety of situations. Combined with his experience of riding for major teams, this makes him valuable both as a potential leader in selected races and as a tactical partner to other leaders. His precise role will be determined by the racing calendar, his form and the objectives set by the coaching staff for 2027.
Why Ciccone chose a new environment
In his first statement after the transfer was confirmed, Ciccone emphasised that leaving after eight years was a major decision, but also a change he personally wanted. According to Pinarello Q36.5's statement, he believes he still has much to offer professional cycling and was looking for a new challenge, different motivation and an environment where he would feel welcome. He particularly highlighted the trust he experienced during his initial conversations with the new team's management. His message focused not exclusively on results or figures, but on how riders are treated and on mutual understanding. This approach suggests that, at least according to his public explanation, the organisational culture of his future team also played an important role.
Ciccone also praised the attention his new team pays to bicycles, equipment, technology and the smallest details of preparation. For a climber whose finishing position in major races is often decided in the final kilometres, technical reliability and adapting equipment to individual requirements are of practical importance. He also emphasised his personal connection with Italian manufacturers Pinarello and Q36.5, which form an important part of the Swiss-registered team's identity. In doing so, he explained what attracted him to the project, but did not reveal his expected racing calendar or precisely defined performance targets. Although changing teams can create new opportunities, its actual impact can only be assessed through preparation and racing performances during the 2027 season.
Ciccone and Tom Pidcock at the centre of new climbing ambitions
There is particular interest in the possibility of Ciccone and Pidcock racing together in events where short, explosive climbs, longer mountain sections and the ability to attack from a reduced group are important. Pidcock has repeatedly demonstrated his quality across different terrains, while Ciccone has built his greatest successes primarily as a climber and attacking rider in major stage races. Their different profiles could provide a tactical advantage, particularly when a team can send one rider on the attack while keeping another among the favourites. However, such a scenario depends on the race and is not a predetermined plan. For now, the new team's official announcement confirms that they will be teammates and emphasises the possibility of complementing each other, rather than assigning them permanently identical or strictly separate roles.
Ciccone spoke respectfully of Pidcock, emphasising his appreciation of the Briton's talent and willingness to make unconventional racing decisions. He expressed a desire for them to help each other improve and achieve something worthwhile together. For a sports director, this creates additional options in races where one leader is not enough to respond to every attack. At the same time, assembling a team with several ambitious riders requires clear priorities and an appropriate distribution of support. Mountainous classics and Grand Tours do not always demand the same tactics, so cooperation between Ciccone and Pidcock will be particularly interesting when their individual objectives overlap. The ability to convert individual quality into collective results will be one of the key measures of this transfer's value.
Pinarello Q36.5 builds a broader squad for 2027
Ciccone's arrival is not an isolated move. Pinarello Q36.5 has confirmed several new names in recent weeks, demonstrating that it is preparing a considerably broader competitive squad. Britain's Ethan Hayter, a time-trial specialist and versatile rider, was introduced on October 7 with a two-year contract starting in 2027. Italian rider Davide Ballerini, known for the classics of northern Europe, was officially announced on October 9, also on a two-season deal. Other confirmed signings include young American Andrew August and Czech sprinter Pavel Bittner, while cycling media have also reported the arrival of Swiss rider Mauro Schmid. According to Cyclingnews, Ciccone represents the team's eleventh new signing in its transfer plans for 2027, illustrating the scale of the roster overhaul.
Such a combination of riders suggests an intention to make the team competitive across several types of races, rather than only in mountainous finales. Hayter can bring quality in time trials and demanding finishes, Ballerini experience on cobblestones and Bittner speed in sprint contests. Ciccone and Pidcock, meanwhile, offer solutions for courses where the strongest competitors emerge on the climbs. In the official presentation, team manager Douglas Ryder particularly highlighted Ciccone's character, experience, racing instinct and ability to take responsibility as a leader. Ryder believes the Italian can make the difference when the peloton splits apart and racing becomes most difficult. Nevertheless, the breadth of the roster does not guarantee results in itself: what matters is how the riders integrate and how much access the team secures to the races it wants to contest.
What moving from a WorldTeam to a ProTeam means
The change also has an organisational dimension. Lidl-Trek competes at the highest level as a UCI WorldTeam, whereas Pinarello Q36.5 is currently registered as a UCI ProTeam, the second professional category in men's road cycling. This distinction is not an assessment of a rider's personal worth, but part of the licensing system and access arrangements for the most important competitions. UCI regulations provide places for the highest-ranked ProTeams, as well as invitations awarded by individual race organisers. Cycling's world governing body, the UCI, previously increased the permitted number of teams in men's Grand Tours to 23, while the participation system also incorporates professional team rankings. Ciccone's contract should therefore not be interpreted as automatic confirmation that Pinarello Q36.5 will compete in every Grand Tour in 2027.
Equally, the difference between categories does not mean that elite riders from ProTeams cannot be among the best in the world's biggest races. Invitations, team results and the ability to establish a racing programme suited to individual riders are all important. The arrival of an athlete with proven victories and podium finishes can increase a squad's competitiveness, visibility and appeal to organisers. Cyclingnews reports that the team is using its new signings to build foundations for its ambition of entering the WorldTour, but the transfer itself does not prove that such status has already been secured. For 2027, therefore, it remains an open question which major races Ciccone will contest and whether he and Pidcock will have the opportunity to fight for victories in the same events.
The first major test will be the distribution of roles in the new season
Ciccone joins his new team at the age of 31, bringing extensive experience and results demonstrating that he remains competitive on the most demanding courses. Unlike the transfer of a young rider whose development still lies ahead, Pinarello Q36.5 is recruiting an athlete with clearly established strengths. The three-year contract provides room for more than one season of adaptation and allows for longer-term planning, but it does not reveal individual objectives for each of those years. The key questions will concern the Grand Tour schedule, the importance of mountainous classics and how the team distributes support among its leading performers. If it can successfully combine Ciccone's attacking specialism with Pidcock's versatility, the Swiss squad could have more competitive options than before. Whether that translates into victories will only become clear in races from 2027 onwards, when the Italian first competes in his new jersey.
Sources:
- Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team – official confirmation of the transfer, contract duration, statements from Ciccone and Douglas Ryder (link)
- Lidl-Trek / Trek Race Shop – official statement on ending the partnership after eight seasons (link)
- Lidl-Trek / Trek Race Shop – report from Il Lombardia 2026 and Ciccone's third-place finish (link)
- Cyclingnews – circumstances of the transfer, partnership with Pidcock and the team's signings for 2027 (link)
- ANSA – confirmation of the transfer and review of Ciccone's results towards the end of the 2026 season (link)
- Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team – announcements of Ethan Hayter's and Davide Ballerini's arrivals (link; link)
- UCI – changes to the ProTeam participation system and the number of teams in the biggest three-week races (link; link)