‘Let’s finish with something really good’ - Ciccone eyes dream Lidl-Trek farewell after European heartbreak

Giulio Ciccone is hoping to bring his eight-year spell with Lidl-Trek to a memorable end at Il Lombardia on Saturday, just six days after suffering one of the most painful defeats of his career at the European Championships.

Lidl-Trek confirmed on Friday that the 31-year-old Italian will leave the team at the end of the season, despite having a contract running through 2029. The decision was described as mutual, with Ciccone set to race in the team's colours for the final time at his favourite Monument.

“It will be my last race with Lidl-Trek after many years,” Ciccone told CyclingProNet. “Last year was not really easy for me, but I can only say thanks to them, because they always supported me. We are going to finish tomorrow, I hope in the best way, and I will always say thanks to them.”

The announcement comes after months of speculation surrounding Ciccone's future, with reports linking him to a move to Pinarello-Q36.5 on a three-year deal.

His final appearance for Lidl-Trek also offers an immediate opportunity to put last weekend's disappointment behind him.

At the European Championships in Šenčur, Ciccone lost the road race title to Remco Evenepoel in a photo finish decided by just two or three millimetres. Both riders requested a review of the result, with the Italian later describing the defeat as the biggest disappointment of his career and the wait for the verdict as the worst minutes he had experienced in the sport.

“The day after I was for sure not happy, but this is normal. Like always, we restart. I just continued my normal plan, training, and I was already focused on tomorrow,” Ciccone said.

“Tomorrow will be a big one. It’s my favourite race.”

Il Lombardia provides a fitting setting for Ciccone's final race with Lidl-Trek. The Italian spent several years living in Bergamo, where Saturday's edition starts, and has a particularly strong connection with the race and its surroundings.

“It’s a different one, but for my characteristics it’s one of the best. I also love this race because I was living many years in Bergamo, I spent many times here, so I know everything about this place,” he said.

“I’m Italian, so with all the Italian fans here, it’s really something different. It’s always emotional to race here.”

This year's route runs from Bergamo to Como, reversing the direction of the previous edition. Ciccone believes the change could make for a more open race, although he expects the final climbs to prove decisive.

“This year maybe it will be a bit more open, because after the Ghisallo we go straight to Como and then the final is really hard. I expect a group a bit bigger compared with the last edition, because after the Ghisallo we go straight to Como, so it will be fast. But then the final with two times San Fermo and Civiglio will be super hard,” he said.

“The approach to San Fermo the first time, that I think will be the key point of the race, because it will be stressful for sure.”

Ciccone arrives at Il Lombardia in encouraging form, having finished second to Evenepoel at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec last month before coming agonisingly close to the European title.

Victory on Saturday would make him the first Italian winner of Il Lombardia since Vincenzo Nibali in 2017 and provide a memorable conclusion to his time with Lidl-Trek.

Over eight seasons with the team, Ciccone has claimed ten victories, including two Giro d'Italia stages and the 2025 Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa. He has also won the mountains classification at both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France.

Now, with one final race remaining in Lidl-Trek colours, the Italian is hoping to add one last highlight before beginning the next chapter of his career.

“I feel good, I have good shape, good legs, so I hope tomorrow will be a good day,” he said. “Let’s see if I can finish with something really good.”