Tom Pidcock and Pinarello Q36.5 kick off their 2026 Tour de France campaign with a challenging 19.6km team time trial around Barcelona’s iconic roads on Saturday.
Pidcock comes into the three-week Grand Tour among the GC favourites and will be looking for the best possible start, which will require a strong, well-executed team effort. As the leader of Pinarello Q36.5, he has a host of riders to support him, including newly crowned British National Road Race Champion Fred Wright.
As a multi-discipline rider, Pidcock has myriad bike options at his disposal, but will naturally be riding a Pinarello Bolide F time trial bike. While his teammates will use the same bike, albeit with the regular navy-blue-and-gold livery, the Yorkshireman will ride a unique black-and-gold-themed machine.
Let’s get into the details.
A dual-stack, five-spacer system that supports custom one-piece bar extensions by Most
(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
The Pinarello Bolide F underwent an update in 2024, borrowing technologies from the Bolide F HR – the bike used by the men’s and women’s Italian track teams in the Olympic endurance events. Look closely, and you’ll notice the ribbed, drag-reducing edging on the seat tube and seatpost called AirStream technology.
The front end is fairly high, with a dual-stack, five-spacer system that supports custom one-piece bar extensions by Most. While the cups use standard foam padding, two 3D-printed strips – like the lattice structures you’ll find on some saddles – are located on each extension to support the forearms.
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The Bolide F is outfitted in a full SRAM Red AXS groupset, including a power meter. Pidcock has opted for a fairly traditional 1x gearing configuration comprising a single 60T chainring that drives a 10-36T cassette via very short 160mm cranks. While the X-Sync narrow/wide tooth profiling should keep the chain in place, there’s a Wolf Tooth chainkeeper for added security.
Look closely, and you’ll notice that the BB ends of both crankarms have been filled with 3D-printed plugs to smooth the surface and possibly save a few watts . There’s also a waxed chain.
A Zipp 858 NSW front and Super-9 solid rear disc take care of rolling duties
(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
The wheels come compliments of Zipp. In this case, an 858 NSW front and Super-9 solid rear disc wrapped in surprisingly ‘narrow’ 28mm Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed tyres – no doubt a personal choice and aerodynamic decision. The Bolide can accommodate tyres as wide as 32mm, so the chosen configuration is far from maxed out.
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Because SRAM only supplies its wireless blips with adhesive tape, to improve the look and ergonomics, Pidcock has used a 3D-printed Leap Components Aero Grip Blip Mount for the brake levers and TT Shift assembly to neatly house the blips. It looks super refined and also adds extra grip when holding the basebar during cornering. While Leap products are becoming popular among riders and teams who use SRAM, we’re told Pidcock sourced these items himself.
165mm cranks are now commonplace on most road bike setups, but Pidcock has chosen to go with 160mm on his TT bike. This ensures an aggressive, aerodynamic position without sacrificing power, thanks to the less restrictive hip angle
(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
The Prologo Predator saddle has become a popular choice for riders during time trials, thanks to its aero and ergonomically optimised shape. Pidcock’s one is the new 02 version, which gets added padding and grip from Connect Power Control technology strips along the top. This model is constructed from injected carbon fibre and uses a standard Nack (nano carbon-fibre) 7x9mm rail – and is compatible with any seatpost. At £520 a pop, it’s not a cheap component, but at 163g it is light and promises a 6.4-Watt saving over the previous model.
The finishing touches include a pair of Shimano Dura-Ace PD-R9100 pedals and a Taxc time trial bottle cage.
With many fully built time trial bikes tipping the scales at between 9-10kg, Pidcock’s Pinarello Bolide F weighed in at a feathery 8.85kg.
Prologo’s now widely employed Predator TT saddle promises a 6.4-Watt saving over the previous model
(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
Pinarello Bolide F TT bike specs
- Frameset: TorayCa 1100G, TiCR
- Fork: Bolide TT Onda Fork with ForkFlap
- Cockpit: Custom Most TT basebar and extensions
- Seatpost: Pinarello Aero
- Groupset: SRAM Red AXS 60T, 10-36T
- Wheelset: Zipp 858 NSW front/ Super-9 Disc rear
- Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed 28mm
- Saddle: Prologo Predator 01//TT
- Weight: 8.85kg (with pedals)
