Pidcock finished the UCI individual standings in fifth place on 4,411.5 points, the highest career ranking for the 27-year-old. At the top, Tadej Pogacar closed the year on 9,331.8 points, more than 2,000 clear of Remco Evenepoel in second, with Isaac del Toro third and 20-year-old Frenchman Paul Seixas fourth.

The result also lifted Pinarello-Q36.5 from 19th to 12th in the team standings on 10,863 UCI points, a 32.7% rise on 2025. The Swiss ProTeam now holds invitations to every WorldTour race on the 2027 calendar.

Ciccone exits Lidl-Trek early

The headline arrival for 2027 is Giulio Ciccone, who agreed an early exit from Lidl-Trek despite a contract running through 2029. The 31-year-old Italian signed a three-year deal with Pinarello-Q36.5 after eight seasons at the American outfit, where he closed his tenure with a podium at Il Lombardia.

“After eight years with the same team, this is a big decision, but one I really wanted to make. I feel I still have a lot to offer, and I needed a new challenge, fresh motivation and an environment where I can feel at home,” Ciccone told Tour Magazin.

Read also: PSG captain Marquinhos absent from Ballon d’Or

Hayter joins the British core

Ethan Hayter has signed a two-year contract after two seasons at Soudal Quick-Step. The 28-year-old British time trial champion joins a lineup that already includes Pidcock, Fred Wright and Thomas Gloag.

“From the outside, it looked very well organized and like a team that was progressing really nicely,” Hayter told Canadian Cycling Magazine.

Pinarello-Q36.5 has also added Tour de France stage winner Mauro Schmid, Czech sprinter Pavel Bittner and young American AJ August to its 2027 roster.

Edinburgh opens the year on 2 July

The rebuild lands in a year with heavy focus on the opening stages of the Tour de France. Stage 1 of the 2027 edition rolls out from Edinburgh on Friday 2 July, with the peloton covering 184 km through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders to a finish at Carlisle Castle.

Read also: Jose Mourinho makes bold ‘Real Madrid don’t play to win at Camp Nou’ claim after Barcelona victory

It is the first time the Tour de France has visited Scotland, with the women’s Tour de France Femmes also starting in Great Britain the same year, from Leeds on 30 July.

Read also: Michael Carrick’s potential replacement makes major demand in Manchester United talks