Jordi Meeus closing in on Lidl-Trek move as sprinters transfer market heats up

According to Belgian outlet HLN, Lidl-Trek has moved strongly for Meeus as it looks to add a versatile fast man to its Classics group. Meeus is out of contract this winter and has become one of the more interesting names on the sprint market, combining the speed to win major bunch finishes with the durability to survive demanding one-day races.

His victory on the Champs-Élysées at the 2023 Tour de France remains the standout win of his career, but Meeus has continued to build a broader profile since then. Wins at the Copenhagen Sprint, Binche-Chimay-Binche and the Ename Samyn Classic have underlined his development into more than a pure sprinter.

HLN reports that Red Bull made an offer to keep Meeus, but that Lidl-Trek has put forward the stronger proposal. The deal is now believed to be close to completion, although it has not yet been formally announced.

For Lidl-Trek, who won all three points classifications in the Grand Tours last year, Meeus would add yet another proven sprinting option to an already formidable line-up with Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan.

The news about Meeus is not the first move in what is shaping up to be a lively sprinter market.

HLN previously reported that Arnaud De Lie is set to leave Lotto-Intermarché for Tudor, while another Belgian sprinter, Tom Crabbe, is also heading to Switzerland after his breakthrough season and is expected to join Pinarello-Q36.5.

Pavel Bittner of Picnic-PostNL and Kaden Groves of Alpecin-Premier Tech are also expected to leave their current teams and become available on the market. According to HLN, Lidl-Trek held talks with both riders as well, but ultimately chose Meeus.