Derek Gee-West 'quite likely' to return to Giro after signing for Lidl-Trek

Derek Gee-West was announced on Tuesday as the team’s sixth signing of the transfer window, and second significant GC addition alongside Juan Ayuso. When Juan Ayuso arrived at the team, Mattias Skjelmose had told TV2 that “I found out about it quite early on, without the team having told me. I think that was a bit strange. But yes, it will be exciting. A new challenge," leading to question marks about balancing team leadership.

At the team’s media day in December, Skjelmose reflected on these comments suggesting that they had been blown out of proportion and stated that he was looking foward “to build a relationship” with the Spaniard on the bike to form a successful partnership in 2026.

With the arrival of another GC leader, Andersen was asked by Feltet if Skjelmose was told about the arrival of Gee-West before the transfer was made public. “It's been a secret for a long time, but he’s been informed,” said Andersen.

With the arrivals of Gee-West and Ayuso, Lidl-Trek, who finished 3rd in the UCI rankings in 2025 with 46 victories, look arguably stronger on paper heading into the new season, and alongside Skjelmose among others, the team have the positive puzzle of balancing the ambitions of multiple leaders in each Grand Tour.

“It is a task that we have to work on. If we are to take a step up, we must be represented in all Grand Tours, for example, also combined,” said Andersen. “In the Giro, we have [Jonathan] Milan and [Giulio] Ciccone, who will not ride GC anymore, so it does not impact him. And Gee has shown that he can ride home a good result relatively alone."

After finishing 4th at the Giro d’Italia in 2025, it looks likely that the Canadian will head to Italy once more in 2026, joining Jonathan Milan, who will target the sprints, and Giulio Ciccone, who won't focus on the general classification and rather stages. Beyond racing the national championships in June in Canada, Gee-West's last race prior was said Giro in May where he ended 4th.

"I think so, yes, it is probably quite likely,” said Andersen when asked if Gee-West will ride the Giro, which would leave Lidl-Trek with multiple cards to play to try and have another successful three weeks in Italy after six stage wins in 2025.