Tour de France Super Teams Can’t Sign Pogačar so They’re Stealing Each Other’s Best Staff Instead

Lidl-Trek just snatched some of the best brains in pro cycling from its key rivals as it chases the podium of the Tour de France.

The budding super team confirmed it poached lead sport director Grischa Niermann from Visma-Lease a Bike and picked up performance guru Dan Lorang after he recently left Red-Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.

Lidl-Trek also recruited a nutrition expert who worked from Visma in part of a huge leadership shake-up that was outlined Tuesday.

The team also confirmed ongoing rumors that long-time manager Luca Guercilena will step down in what’s a key moment for the team of Mads Pedersen, Derek Gee-West, Juan Ayuso, and Jonathan Milan.

Guercilena will be replaced by Andy Schleck, who only recently moved up to deputy general manager.

The managerial transition will take place after this year’s Tour de France.

The latest spin of the WorldTour managerial carousel

Lidl-Trek’s managerial reshuffle continues the evolution of a team that’s piling money into its ambition to beat Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de France.

Lidl took a majority stake in the squad last summer and immediately flexed its financial muscle in signing Ayuso to one of the biggest deals in the WorldTour.

The squad also picked up Canadian Derek Gee-West last winter and is reportedly sniffing after Giro d’Italia runner-up Felix Gall as it looks to bolster an already packed GC department.

The signing of Niermann and Lorang will bring some of the best-respected directors in the sport to Lidl-Trek’s back room.

Their arrival is also part of a growing trend in the WorldTour: If you don’t have Pogačar or Jonas Vingegaard on your books, get the biggest brains in the business instead.

This winter, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgohe lured away key staff from Ineos Grenadiers, Soudal Quick Step, and UAE Emirates when it kick-started its “Remco Era”.

Movistar got Matt White after he left Jayco-AlUla, and Decathlon convinced Luke Rowe to join them rather than his former Ineos team.

With riders like Pogačar, Vingegaard, and Isaac del Toro locked-in to long-term contracts, ambitious rivals have to bet on youth for the roster or knowledge for the back room.

Lidl-Trek boosts backroom in chase for the Tour de France

Niermann will be the core of Lidl-Trek’s vision when he officially starts as chief sporting officer in August.

The German staffer was part of all of Visma-Lease a Bike’s grand tour victories and led Wout van Aert to the win this spring at Paris-Roubaix.

The news this week that Niermann had quit Visma-Lease a Bike shocked the cycling world.

Speaking Tuesday in a press conference, Visma’s CEO Richard Plugge said he was “disappointed and surprised” by his sidekick’s unexpected decision to exit.

Niermann said in a note from Lidl-Trek that his time at Visma had come. He had also raced with the Rabobank team before the squad changed identity.

“After having spent my whole life at the organization today known as team Visma-Lease a Bike, I felt the time was right for a new challenge,” Niermann said Tuesday.

“Joining Lidl-Trek represents a special opportunity for me personally, as it allows me to shape one of the most ambitious projects in professional cycling,” he said.

Lorang is another well-known name in staffing circles. He revolutionized triathlon training and became a key figure at Bora-Hansgrohe.

Lorang also contributed expertise to the Red Bull Performance Center when the energy drink brand took over the team.

It was confirmed Tuesday that Lorang will work as head of performance at Lidl-Trek while also leading projects at the new multi-sports “Crivit Performance Center.” The facility will be available for the cycling team and the companies of Schwarz Group.

The last names in Lidl-Trek’s backroom overhaul are Martijn Redegeld and York-Peter Klöppel.

Redegeld worked in nutrition at Visma-Lease a Bike before spending time at soccer club Ajax. Klöppel specialises in mental performance and recently worked with Red Bull Sports.