Despite holding the most XC mountain bike wins among elite riders, Tom Pidcock admits he had little experience with UCI Gravel World Championships courses—until now. For his debut, he mounted a brand-new Pinarello Dogma GR gravel bike.
“I personally feel very underprepared for today’s race. It’s my first time on this bike, my first gravel race ever, and I don’t even know what tire pressure I should run,” Pidcock shared.
His schedule has been packed at the end of the season. He arrived directly from Italy, where he had just placed sixth at Il Lombardia on Saturday afternoon. When asked whether he flew Ryanair, EasyJet, or by private jet, the 26-year-old laughed and replied with one word: “Teleportation.”
Although his UCI ranking earned him a front-row start, the 241-kilometer course posed a serious challenge. Pidcock had hoped to keep a lower profile, but as soon as he arrived at the start, his Q36.5 team-issued Pinarello Dogma GR was surrounded by media cameras.
While many North American gravel pros opt for 2.1-inch tires and suspension, the flat gravel roads of Limburg led most riders to choose relatively narrower tires.
Pidcock selected 35mm Vittoria Terreno Pro T30 tires with minimal tread—a clear sign he was relying on his world-class bike handling skills.
His custom red-and-gold Pinarello Dogma GR offers clearance for up to 45mm tires at the front and 42mm at the rear. With that kind of space and an visibly aggressive geometry, it’s clear this bike was built for speed.
The Dogma GR retains much of the aerodynamic tube shaping seen in Pinarello’s road race machines, though it features a redesigned seatpost for added comfort.
The rest of Pidcock’s setup confirms he had no intention of holding back. He ran a SRAM Red XPLR groupset with a 10-46T cassette and a 50T chainring.
To ensure chain security on rough terrain, his mechanics installed a Wolf Tooth LoneWolf Aero chain catcher.
Pidcock’s Most integrated handlebar was set as low as possible for an aggressive stance.
Before the race, Pidcock and his team removed the tool kit from the frame’s internal storage compartment. While useful on long rides, Pidcock preferred quick access to his flat repair gear, opting to carry it in his jersey pocket instead.
With confidence that the course wouldn’t require much running or hike-a-bike sections, he stuck with his standard Shimano Dura-Ace road pedals.
