How Team GB star Tom Pidcock is revolutionising an elegant Italian biking model
EXCLUSIVE Q36.5 have quickly established themselves as one of Italy’s premium cycling brands – and Daily Star Sport discovered how they were helped by Olympic gold medalist Tom Pidcock
Inside Q36.5’s showroom in Bolzano, nestled in the heart of the Italian Dolomites, there’s a sign that hangs above the doorway.
“Q36.5 is a research laboratory with innovation at its core,” it declares. And for the company’s founder, Luigi Bergamo, it isn’t just a slogan – it’s a mission statement.
In the world of professional cycling, Q36.5 are still taking its first steps – having been established just over a decade ago. Their professional cycling team is even younger.
Yet despite their relative youth, they’re already making waves in the traditionally reserved cycling world, adding a flourish of unmistakable Italian flair to every product.
Their latest launch – created in collaboration with Team GB superstar Tom Pidcock, who left INEOS Grenadiers for Q36.5 last winter – is a testament to that ambition.
Daily Star Sport was present as the last summer rays cast warmth on the city before disappearing behind the mighty mountains, while journalists gathered inside the showroom.
Bergamo’s latest project was built with Pidcock at its heart, he explained to the media.
After signing for Q36.5 ahead of last season, Pidcock had explained to the team the type of cold-weather jacket he wanted – one similar to the one he had used at INEOS. However, Bergamo told the media that copying other products simply isn’t his style.
Instead, Bergamo set out to reinvent cold-weather gear from scratch, ensuring every piece remained aerodynamic enough to win at the highest level.
One of Pidcock’s goals for the system had been La Fleche Wallonne – the storied Belgian spring classic notorious for its freezing temperatures and biblical rain.
The 2024 edition was a brutal reminder of its reputation: freezing riders were so cold they had to be hauled from their bikes to team cars. Mattias Skjelmose of Lidl–Trek suffered the worst, filmed violently shivering at the roadside.
In 2025, the conditions weren’t quite as bad – but still cold enough to deter even the hardest of cyclists to think twice about heading outside.
However, Pidcock had a secret weapon up his sleeve – Q36.5’s Foul Weather system. It had been tested at other Northern European races such as Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Tirreno-Adriatico. And now it was ready for its toughest test.
The Foul Weather system is made up of three components: the Rain Shell Plus (for early race or extreme conditions), Vampire Shell Jacket (mid race) and the Rain Shell Aero Jersey (final KMs, or breakaway).`
Pidcock, who has won gold on the mountain bike at the last two Olympics, faced tough competition from the Olympic champion on the road, Remco Evenepoel, and the World Champion Tadej Pogacar.
The latter was untouchable on the final climb of the Mur de Huy, taking flight as the gradients reached an eye-watering 33% in the wet and wind.
Pogacar would cross the line first, 10 seconds ahead of Kevin Vauquelin – the biggest winning margin since Igor Astarloa in 2003 – and 12 seconds ahead of Pidcock, who rounded out the podium.
The Foul Weather system, which was also seen at the Vuelta a España where Pidcock finished third, launched last week.
Taking to social media, Pidcock admitted he might not have made his podium at Fleche without it: “Proud to have been part of the development process of the new Q36.5 Foul Weather jackets, which have just launched.
“Working with Luigi and his team at Q36.5 is a game-changer for me and the whole team in terms of performance, aided by clothing. Starting from prototypes, we went from 11 samples to the three jacket system seen today! I don’t think my Flèche podium would have happened without this kit….
“Of course, hoping for more races in the sun next year, but relieved to know when the weather turns bad, I’ll be better prepared than ever before!”
