Lidl-Trek lock down rising talent Álvarez for 2027 WorldTour step up

Héctor Álvarez has committed his future to Lidl-Trek and will step up to the WorldTour with the German team in 2027 after two seasons in the under-23 squad.

This season, Álvarez finished fifth at Paris-Roubaix Espoirs before taking eighth at the Liège-Bastogne-Liège under-23 race. Álvarez has also raced amongst the professionals this season, ending second at the Trofeo Calvià in January in a two-up sprint with António Morgado.

The Spaniard lined up for Lidl-Trek’s WorldTour side at races including the Volta ao Algarve, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Scheldeprijs, and the Baloise Belgium Tour, where he won the youth classification, before ending sixth at the Spanish Championships in both the time trial and road race.

In a press release confirming the news, Álvarez has expressed his desire to shine in the Classics, stating, “Normally in Spain they have the culture that we all need to be climbers, but my mind has always been fully on the Classics.”

“I really love the weather, the way the race is on for the whole day and I’m also physically well-suited to them,” added Álvarez. “But I’m also learning that I am able to be a good helper on the climbs so I need to see where I’ll go, maybe races like Flanders or the Ardennes will suit me.”

The 19-year-old will join his compatriots Juan Ayuso and Carlos Verona in the WorldTour side, and Álvarez also discussed how much he is looking forward to supporting the GC ambitions of Ayuso long-term. 

“I always said from the start that I wanted to learn how to ride for a big general classification leader and it’s really lucky that I’ve been able to get this experience so far. Working for a rider like Juan [Ayuso] is amazing, and it also teaches me how to be a good leader,” he said.

Ayuso claimed victory in his Lidl-Trek debut at the Volta ao Algarve in February, supported by a strong team that included Álvarez.

While there will be plenty of intrigue surrounding Álvarez based on his obvious talent, the Spaniard is not placing extra pressure on his own shoulders ahead of his step up to the WorldTour.

“It’s true that the expectations [on young riders] are really high, but I’m a really calm guy. I have my steps. I know that I’m not developed enough yet so I want to go slowly. We have a super clear idea of my development and we will not stress," said Álvarez.