'For now I'm at Netcompany-Ineos' - Filippo Ganna evasive on possible transfer to Lidl-Trek

Filippo Ganna was evasive and careful with his reply when asked if he would make a surprise transfer to Lidl-Trek for 2027, but the transfer from Netcompany-Ineos appears more and more likely, with Daniel Benson reporting that the German team are now confident of reaching a deal. 

Ganna has been at Netcompany-Ineos since 2019 and is under contract with the British team for 2027. However it seems both teams are open to an early transfer deal, as Lidl-Trek continue to strengthen their roster and Netcompany-Ineos make strategic budget decisions.

"For now I'm at Netcompany-Ineos. Next year we'll see…" Ganna told Oggi Sport Notizie before the start of the Coppa Bernocchi on Tuesday, careful not to reveal any emotion and details of any negotiations.   

Ganna is one of several big-name riders shaking-up the transfer market in the final weeks of the 2026 season as the UCI registration deadline of October 15 nears.

Paul Seixas has still to confirm if he will stay with Decathlon-CMA CGM beyond 2027 or accept huge offers from a rival super team. Primož Roglič has been linked to Lotto Intermarché and Tudor Pro Cycling, while Giulio Ciccone is expected to leave for Pinarello-Q36.5, as Felix Gall, Jordan Jegat, Jordi Meeus and Gregor Mühlberger boost the German roster for 2027.

Reports of a possible Ganna transfer emerged on Saturday via the usually well-informed Ciro Scognamiglio of La Gazzetta dello Sport. Daniel Benson has recently added extra details, suggesting that Netcompany might prefer to let Ganna go a year early and use his estimated 2.8 million Euro salary to bankroll a contract extension for Josh Tarling and perhaps even help in a bid to sign Seixas.

Ganna is now 30 and perhaps judged past his peak by the Netcompany management. He won Dwars door Vlaanderen but has yet to land a monument Classic. He is one of the greatest time triallists of his generation but has often been beaten by Remco Evenepoel in recent years.

A move to Lidl-Trek would boost their Classics squad and Grand Tour support block. Trek would no doubt be happy to see Italy's leading rider switch from Pinarello to their bikes and Lidl would surely use Ganna's high profile in Italy to drive their supermarket sales.

Ganna would join forces with fellow Italian track rider and road sprinter Jonathan Milan at Lidl-Trek, and line-up in the Classics with Mads Pedersen, Jordi Meeus, Toms Skujiņš, Mathias Vacek and Quinn Simmons. Stage racers Juan Ayuso, Derek Gee-West, Felix Gall and Mattias Skjelmose would surely be happy to have Ganna riding for them on the flat roads of Grand Tours.  

Lidl-Trek reportedly have problems with too many riders under contract for 2027 but appear to be making changes to allow the signing of Ganna and other riders already announced.

Max Walscheid has retired early to take up a role at the team's new performance centre in Germany, while Jacopo Mosca will also retire a year earlier than expected to become a sports director with Lidl-Trek.