'Not everyone will be happy' - Lidl-Trek admit tough choices ahead with star-studded squad
Lidl-Trek have assembled one of the strongest squads in the peloton for 2027, but keeping everyone happy could prove just as challenging as winning races. Head of performance Josu Larrazabal admits some difficult conversations are inevitable as the team looks to make the most of its growing collection of stars.
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Lidl-Trek are unlikely to find themselves short of leaders next season. With Filippo Ganna and Felix Gall joining an already formidable roster, the team will have contenders for Grand Tours, Monuments, Classics and sprints. Finding enough opportunities for all of them is another matter.
It is a challenge the team has been working towards for years, according to Head of Performance Josu Larrazabal, who believes the time has come to embrace the expectations that accompany such an ambitious project.
"This is the situation we have wanted for many years as we have gradually grown," Larrazabal told Spanish newspaper MARCA at the Memorial Clavero. "Now we cannot shy away from it."
The additions of Ganna and Gall are particularly significant. The Italian brings proven quality against the clock and in the Classics, while Gall arrives following a season in which he finished on the podium at both the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España.
They join a squad already featuring Juan Ayuso, Mattias Skjelmose and Derek Gee-West as potential Grand Tour leaders, alongside Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan, two riders with their own ambitions in the sprints and one-day races.
The arrivals of Jordi Meeus, Jordan Jegat, Igor Arrieta, Gregor Mühlberger and Georg Zimmermann add further depth, even with Giulio Ciccone among those heading elsewhere.
'Not everyone will be happy'
The first signs of that dilemma are already emerging. As sports director Kim Andersen recently explained, the 2027 Tour de France route could suit several of the team's leading riders, with only eight places available.
But the decisions will extend well beyond July. Race programmes, leadership roles and support duties will all need to be agreed upon, with several riders accustomed to having teams built around them.
Larrazabal acknowledged that not every rider will get what he wants.
"Managing egos requires direct, clear communication," he told MARCA. "We are going to have to make decisions that will not always please everyone, but that is a welcome challenge."
The expectations are high, too. When asked about his ambitions for 2027, Larrazabal named two of cycling's biggest prizes.
"Victories. A Monument. A Grand Tour. Victories."
Spanish supertalent Héctor Álvarez prepares for WorldTour debut
One of the riders hoping to contribute to those ambitions is Héctor Álvarez, who will step up from Lidl-Trek Future Racing to the WorldTour in 2027.
The young Spaniard enjoyed an impressive finish to the 2026 season, with notable performances at the European Championships and Paris-Tours.
"He has been showing his potential for several years, and this year he has had an incredible end to the season," Larrazabal said. "He arrives in the WorldTour in the best possible way."
His race programme has yet to be finalised, with planning meetings scheduled to begin on November 10. Larrazabal expects Álvarez to combine opportunities of his own with races in support of more experienced teammates.
"It will be a mix of races where he has to learn and help more experienced riders, like Mads, Pippo and Jonny, and races where he will have his own opportunities," he explained.
