Tom Pidcock made an emphatic return to road racing with victory at the Gran Premio Industria & Artigianato di Larciano, attacking on the decisive final climb before riding solo into Piazza Vittorio Veneto.

One week on from claiming his second Elite UCI XCO World Championship title in Val di Sole, the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team leader switched disciplines once again – and immediately returned to winning ways.

Pidcock launched his decisive move on the final ascent of the Mungherino, inside the closing 13 kilometres of the 196.4-kilometre race. Once clear, he committed fully, carrying his advantage over the summit and through the descent before reaching Larciano alone.

Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team) finished second, 12 seconds behind, with Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility) completing the podium.

It was another powerful performance from the Team throughout a brutally hot afternoon in Tuscany.

The Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team took responsibility at the front for much of the race before Quinten Hermans played an important role as the action intensified. The Belgian followed the dangerous moves in the decisive phase and ensured the Team was never put on the back foot, giving Pidcock the platform to make his move when the race reached its defining climb.

Hermans remained in the fight deep into the finale before slipping with less than two kilometres remaining. He fortunately escaped without consequences.

Tom Pidcock:

“I came here to find my road legs again after being on the mountain bike, but it turns out they weren’t so bad!

“It was super, super hot today and we knew it was all going to be about the final climb. Normally after the Mountain Bike World Championships it takes me a little bit of time to find my road legs again because it’s a very different sort of effort, so I’m really happy with how I felt today.

“The Team rode on the front all day and did a great job. Quinten made sure that when people started attacking we were never on the back foot. He was always there at the front and was super strong, so I think we can be very happy with how we rode.

“If you want to win a race like this, that’s the way to do it – either from a small group or by going alone. It’s really positive to come here and win.”

The victory continues an extraordinary multi-discipline sequence for Pidcock.

On 26 July, he completed the Tour de France ninth overall in the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team’s debut participation in the world’s biggest race.

Five weeks later, on 30 August, he lined up 35th on the grid at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole. Pidcock worked his way through the field before breaking clear late in the race to claim his second Elite XCO rainbow jersey, finishing 17 seconds ahead of fellow Briton Charlie Aldridge.

Seven days later, he was back on a road bike.

And back on the top step.

Sunday also marked Pidcock’s first-ever appearance at Larciano, one of Italian cycling’s long-standing one-day races. Its roots stretch back to the Circuito di Larciano in 1967, while the Gran Premio Industria & Artigianato itself was established in 1977 and has been part of the UCI ProSeries since 2020.

Its roll of honour carries some of the defining names of different generations of cycling – from Felice Gimondi, Roger De Vlaeminck, Francesco Moser and Giuseppe Saronni to Damiano Cunego, Vincenzo Nibali, Adam Yates, Matej Mohorič, Marc Hirschi and 2025 winner Isaac del Toro.

Pidcock can now add his name to that list.

First visit. First road race back. First across the line.

Veni, vidi, vici.