Giulio Ciccone set to leave Lidl-Trek despite deal through 2029

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 31-year-old is expected to sign a three year contract with the Swiss team, keeping him there until the end of 2029. A number of details still have to be finalised, but the move would bring an end to Ciccone’s long spell with Trek, which began in 2019.

The potential move comes after Ciccone signed an improved agreement with Lidl-Trek through 2029 last winter. His departure would therefore require the two teams to reach an agreement over the remainder of his contract.

Earlier reports from Belgium and the Netherlands had already indicated that Pinarello-Q36.5 was pushing to sign the Italian, while Tudor Pro Cycling had also shown interest. WielerFlits reported that Tudor viewed  Ciccone as a possible new leader following the retirement of Julian Alaphilippe. Gazzetta’s latest report, however, points towards Pinarello-Q36.5 as Ciccone’s next destination.

Ciccone has been one of Lidl-Trek’s most recognisable riders for much of the past decade. After emerging at Bardiani CSF, where he won a Giro d’Italia stage at just 21, he joined Trek-Segafredo in 2019 and gradually developed from an aggressive climber into a rider capable of challenging in both major one day races and demanding stage races.

His record includes three Giro stage victories, two Giro mountains classifications and the mountains jersey at the Tour de France. He also became the most recent Italian to wear the Tour’s yellow jersey when he spent two days in the race lead in 2019.

His performances in the classics have added another dimension to his career. Ciccone finished third at Il Lombardia in 2024 and second at Liège-Bastogne-Liège the following spring, before winning the Clásica San Sebastián later in 2025.

He has remained a prominent figure throughout 2026. Ciccone briefly wore the pink jersey at the Giro and went on to secure the mountains classification. More recently, he finished second to Remco Evenepoel at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, before taking seventh in Montréal.

That form has put him among Italy’s key riders for Sunday’s World Championship road race in Montréal. Ciccone is currently training in Vermont before joining national coach Roberto Amadio and the rest of the Italian squad.

Several reports suggest Lidl-Trek currently has more riders under contract for 2027 than it can register under UCI WorldTour rules. The team is also well stocked with leaders. Juan Ayuso, Felix Gall, Mattias Skjelmose and Derek Gee-West give Lidl-Trek several options for the Grand Tours, while there is no shortage of riders capable of taking responsibility in the Classics either.

That depth could make it easier for Lidl-Trek to reach an agreement over Ciccone, despite the Italian still being under contract until the end of 2029.

There have also been changes behind the scenes. Ciccone spent much of his time at the team working under Luca Guercilena, and his departure altered a structure that had been in place for years. Reports in Belgium and the Netherlands have suggested that Ciccone started to reassess his future after Guercilena left.

For Pinarello-Q36.5, signing Ciccone would be another sign of the team’s growing ambitions.

The Swiss squad has already been one of the busiest teams on the transfer market ahead of 2027, bringing in Mauro Schmid, Andrew August, Sebastian Berwick and Pavel Bittner among several new arrivals. Ciccone would give Pinarello-Q36.5 another established leader alongside Tom Pidcock, particularly for the Ardennes Classics and the harder mountain stages in the Grand Tours.