Lidl-Trek, in full restructuring, is reinforced with the best time trialist in the world

The restructuring of the German team Lidl-Trek continue. After the recent confirmations of the signings of Felix Gall, Gregor Mühlberger and Jordan Jegat, who join those of Igor Arrieta, Jordi Meews and George Zimmermann, this Tuesday they announced the arrival of one of the best time trialists in the world, the Italian Filippo Ganna, two-time world champion, who signs for three seasons, until 2029, and will leave the Ineos discipline.

“Lidl-Trek is pleased to announce the signing of Filippo Ganna, the Italian champion, for the 2027 season. Considered one of the best cyclists of his generation, Ganna is a top-level specialist and a key figure in the grand tours and Grands Tours,” the team says in a statement.

Ganna, 30, has won two world titles (2020 and 2021), in addition to two stage victories in the Giro d’Italia and two in the Vuelta a España. He was also an Olympic alpine skiing champion with the Tokyo youth team in 2021. He won the bronze medal in Paris in 2024, in the same discipline, as well as the silver medal in the road event.

In last year’s Tour de France, Andy Schleck’s ambitious formation regained the team classification. Mattias Skjelmose came sixth and Juan Ayuso seventh. With Quinn Simmons (18th), Carlos Verona (23rd) and Derek Gee (25th), Lidl-Trek has five riders in the top 25 overall, so Mads Pedersen has returned to fourth place.

Ciccone, one of the victims

The restructuring has directly affected the Italian Giulio Ciccone, topical after losing the gold in the last European road championship in the photo-finish with Evenepoel, who after eight seasons reached an agreement to break the contract that united them and ‘Il Lombardía’ was his last race with them. Its new destination, the Swiss Pinarello Q36.5 until 2029.

In statements collected by Lidl-Trek, Ganna stated that “I am very eager to be in a great team like Lidl-Trek next year. I feel proud to join them and I can’t wait for the first training camp and to start the season in the best possible way. After eight years in my current team, opening a new chapter is very nice and I feel great motivation for the season. I have great goals that I hope to achieve with Lidl-Trek, especially in the classics, and with the team we will have, nothing is impossible. Of course, the grand tours are also an important goal, and I am looking forward to supporting the team while having my own opportunities.”