Built For Speed. Ready To Race Sharp: Tom Crabbe Joins Pinarello Q36.5
At 21 years old, Tom Crabbe already possesses the power, instinct and acceleration of a natural sprinter. His breakthrough 2026 season has shown what he can do with that speed – and offered a glimpse of how much potential remains to be developed.
From 1 January 2027, the Belgian will continue that development with Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, joining from Team Flanders-Baloise on a two-year contract.
Crabbe claimed his first professional road victory at the Étoile de Bessèges in February before winning again at the Vuelta a Andalucía. He then delivered an outstanding Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye, taking three stages and the points classification.
His victories have also revealed a versatility that goes beyond conventional flat sprints, with harder and uphill finishes increasingly proving suited to his combination of power and acceleration.
"I’ve learnt this year that uphill sprints suit me quite well, but I also know there are areas where I can become much better, especially producing power at really high speed. I’m still really young and I have a lot to learn. Everything takes time. I want to keep putting in the work, understand myself better as a rider and explore where my sprint can take me."
Tom CrabbeCrabbe’s racing instincts have also been shaped by his background on the track, where positioning, timing and awareness are essential. Racing at close quarters taught him to remain composed in chaotic situations and choose the right moment to launch his sprint.
Now, joining a Team with experienced fast riders gives Crabbe another opportunity to accelerate that learning process.
"There are some really experienced riders in the Team and that is something I’m looking forward to. I want to keep an open mind and learn as much as I possibly can. Especially in my first year, at the dinner table, at training camp and during races, I’ll be listening. I want to understand how the more experienced riders approach different situations and pick up as much as I can from them. Ultimately, we all want the same thing: to help the Team win races. I want to play my part in that, keep developing and be ready when opportunities come."
Tom CrabbeCrabbe describes himself in three words: humble, ambitious and curious.
The ambition, however, remains unmistakably that of a sprinter.
"If I’m honest, my big dream is to be on top of the Champs-Élysées in the green jersey one day. I call it a dream rather than a goal because it is still a long way away. Right now, I want to become the best version of myself, put in the work and see where that takes me. But I think you always need one big dream."
Tom CrabbeTurning speed into performance
At Pinarello Q36.5, Crabbe will also become part of the Team’s Factory Team environment, working directly with performance staff and technical partners including Pinarello, Q36.5 and Amacx.
For a young sprinter, the opportunity to work on aerodynamics, clothing, bike set-up, nutrition and the other details that influence performance at high speed is particularly exciting.
"It will be a big step up for me. Being able to work closely with the Team, mechanics, engineers and partners and give direct feedback is something I’m really looking forward to. I think next year will open my eyes to everything that goes into racing at this level. I want to understand those details and learn how we can use them to perform better."
Tom Crabbe
It is where Crabbe’s natural speed meets the Team’s Race Sharp philosophy: combining instinct and physical ability with preparation, precision and execution.
"It's exciting to welcome Tom to the team. He's a rider with obvious talent, but what impressed us most was his friendly demeanour, his energy, and his willingness to learn. He comes across as someone who is genuinely curious about how to get better and is prepared to put the work in. We think he'll fit really well into our group. He's at a great age, already achieving strong results, but still with a lot of room to grow. We're looking forward to helping him take the next steps in his career and seeing the impact he can have within the team."
Douglas Ryder, Team Principal of Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling TeamThere is also a small coincidence linking Crabbe to Belgian cycling history.
He was born on 2 June 2005. A few months later, another Belgian sprinter named Tom crossed the finish line first in Madrid to become World Champion: Tom Boonen.
Crabbe insists the name had nothing to do with Boonen – his parents were simply choosing between Tom and Thomas.
They chose Tom.
