RACE SHARP, EVERYWHERE: TOM PIDCOCK IS XCO WORLD CHAMPION
Tom Pidcock has been crowned Men Elite Cross-country Olympic UCI World Champion for the second time in his career after a remarkable comeback at the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy.
Starting from the fifth row of the grid at Daolasa di Commezzadura, Pidcock faced an immediate challenge on the punchy 3.5-kilometre circuit, featuring 155 metres of elevation gain per lap and Val di Sole’s trademark combination of steep climbing and technical terrain.
He responded with patience, precision and speed.
Pidcock quickly began moving through the field, reaching eighth position after 6.6 kilometres before completing the bridge to the leaders shortly after the halfway point of the eight-lap race.
From there, he took control.
On lap six, Pidcock increased the pressure at the front, reducing the leading group before another acceleration left only Great Britain teammate Charlie Aldridge able to follow.
The decisive move came on the penultimate lap. Pidcock attacked again on the climb, opened the gap and took a nine-second advantage into the final lap.
There was no coming back.
Pidcock crossed the line alone to claim his second Elite XCO rainbow jersey, with Aldridge taking silver and Canada’s Cole Punchard bronze.
"To be honest, I’m at a loss for words. It’s been a very long and difficult road to get here after the Tour de France."
Tom PidcockTom Pidcock said : “I knew this was a course where it was easy to burn yourself out. You really had to ride within your own limits. I had a hard crash during recon on Friday and my back hurt from the first lap, so I simply couldn’t go any faster.
“I’m lucky that the pace I was able to maintain was good enough to reach the lead group. During the last two laps, I gave it my all to open up a gap. It was an incredibly tough race.
“Charlie Aldridge rode a fantastic race — hats off to him and the entire Cannondale team.
“I also want to dedicate this victory to the Tarling family and to Josh. Seeing him start the Vuelta after everything that has happened was truly incredible. This one is for them.”
RACE SHARP, ON EVERY TERRAIN
The victory adds another rainbow jersey to an extraordinary off-road palmarès.
Pidcock is now a two-time Olympic XCO Champion and two-time Elite XCO UCI World Champion, having won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, and the rainbow jersey in 2023 and 2026.
He is also a two-time Elite XCO European Champion and a multiple UCI XCO World Cup winner.
And the latest title comes just one month after Pidcock finished ninth overall at the Tour de France.
Different terrain. Different demands. Same objective.
WORLD CHAMPION ON THE DOGMA XC
Pidcock claimed the title aboard the Pinarello DOGMA XC, continuing a development project in which he has played a direct role from its earliest stages.
His World Championship bike combined the DOGMA XC full-suspension platform with RockShox Flight Attendant suspension, SRAM XX SL T-Type transmission, SRAM Motive Ultimate brakes, a RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post, MOST cockpit, Prologo Scratch NDR saddle and development-specification Vittoria Labs tyres.
It is an approach at the heart of the Pinarello Q36.5 Team: athlete, equipment and technical partners working together to optimise performance for the rider and the terrain.
From the Tour de France to the XCO World Championships.
Built to perform. Ready to race. Whatever the terrain.
TOM PIDCOCK – MAJOR MTB TITLES
2026 – UCI Elite XCO World Champion
2025 – UEC Elite XCO European Champion
2024 – Olympic XCO Champion
2023 – UCI Elite XCO World Champion
2022 – UEC Elite XCO European Champion
2021 – Olympic XCO Champion
