Lefevere questions Lidl-Trek’s recruitment: ‘The balance isn’t right for me’
The former Soudal Quick-Step manager says the team is buying leaders it does not need while paying domestiques to leave.
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Patrick Lefevere has taken issue with the way Lidl-Trek have rebuilt their roster for 2027, writing in his Het Nieuwsblad column that the signings do not add up to a team.
Seven riders have been confirmed for next season. Felix Gall arrives from Decathlon CMA CGM alongside Gregor Mühlberger, Jordi Meeus signs from Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe on a two-year deal, Igor Arrieta comes from UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and Jordan Jegat and Georg Zimmermann complete the group, with under-23 European champion Héctor Álvarez stepping up from the development squad.
“I wonder: what is the plan at Lidl-Trek? They make a habit of signing riders who are not really available on the market in principle,” Lefevere said. “Last year it was Juan Ayuso and Derek Gee-West. Now apparently Filippo Ganna. Maybe there is a master plan behind it, but I don’t see it.”
Ganna has another year on his Netcompany Ineos contract and told reporters last week he remains there for now. Daniel Benson has since reported Lidl-Trek are confident of a deal before the 15 October roster deadline.
Giulio Ciccone’s departure was confirmed on Friday, with the Italian riding Il Lombardia as his last race for the team despite a contract running to 2029. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports he has agreed to a three-year deal with Pinarello Q36.5. Tao Geoghegan Hart is also expected to leave.
“It feels like stacking names without real sporting logic. Building a team is a delicate balance. To win often you certainly need enough leaders, but at the same time enough helpers to do the dirty work,” Lefevere said.
“I am now reading that a number of domestiques at Lidl-Trek are being offered sums of up to half a million euros to terminate their contracts. At the same time, riders such as Jordi Meeus, Jordan Jegat, Felix Gall and Igor Arrieta are joining the team, and all of them have won races themselves this year. That balance isn’t right for me.”
Lidl-Trek were already at the WorldTour maximum of 30 riders for 2027 before Ciccone’s exit. Their Grand Tour options alone run to Ayuso, Gall, Gee-West and Mattias Skjelmose, with Mads Pedersen, Jonathan Milan, Toms Skujiņš, Mathias Vacek and Quinn Simmons among the classics riders.
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