Big INEOS surprise transfer? Filippo Ganna could leave team - Lidl-Trek in talks to sign Italian leader from 2027 in surprise move
Cycling
Filippo Ganna could be set for a shock exit from Netcompany INEOS this winter as the italian is reported to be close to signing for Lidl-Trek. In a blow for the British team, he could be set to leave as soon as 2027, a year earlier than his current deal, which expires at the end of 2027.
Second at the time trial World Championships last weekend, the 30-year-old has been at the team for eight seasons as he developed into a classics specialist and vital Grand Tour rider at INEOS - taking ten Grand Tour stage wins and wins at races such as Tirreno Adriatico and Dwars door Vlaanderan.
Now, Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Ciro Scognamiglio reports that Ganna could be set to leave INEOS this winter and join Lidl-Trek, one year earlier than his current contract ends.
The potential move underlines Lidl-Trek ambitious transfer market activity in recent seasons, following Juan Ayuso's buyout arrival last winter and Andy Schleck's arrival as team boss, the squad are aiming to become the best team in the world.
They have signalled their intent in the transfer window, sealing several high-profile arrivals as Felix Gall, Jordi Meeus, Igor Arrieta, Greor Muhlberger and Jordan Jegat front their big arrivals so far.
Filippo Ganna at the 2026 Tour de France
INEOS exits in transfer window
It's so far been a transfer period of exits for INEOS, who lose Bob Jungels and Ben Swift to retirement while AJ August, Artem Schmidt, Ben Turner and Victor Langelotti are all leaving the squad. Their only confirmed 2027 arrival is Benjami nNoval - who arrives as junior time trial and road race World champion.
At the time trial World Championships last month, Remco Evenepoel won with almost a minute over Ganna. The Italian argued he was racing at his best level and defended his stance after Remco Evenepoel doubted it.
"Numerically we did everything well; I have nothing to complain about," Ganna said following the race. The 39-kilometer-long flat course saw Evenepoel take the win, even though the technical sections would've expectedly favoured the Italian.
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Ganna on Worlds time trial
“I have great respect for Remco as a person and an athlete; I don’t question anything. He rode incredibly fast, and I know I rode fast too. If he wants, we can sit down together, and I’ll show him the time trial data; I have no problem showing it to him."
He added: "The last section was the most technical, and the slightly uphill stretch to the finish was challenging, but I don't think I lost because of that.
"We're always close to knocking on the door, I hope that one day we'll open it again and be able to win that rainbow jersey."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- PR to Tudor hardly means the end of WorldTour, they basically get invited to everything. Lidl-Trek German now??? Instead of asking if their football team is white enough, maybe that crowd should ask if their cycling team is German enough. American owner, main sponsor Hardly a German rider or staff member or equipment provider. Anyone have background to this decision, was it gifted to guarantee a long-term commitment from Lidl the way Ineos brown-nosed Netcompany?Jumpyjohn03-10-2026
- What a shame Pogačar can't fulfill his promise. It'll have to be next year
Rafionain-Glas03-10-2026 - Maybe their mechanics are willing to step in? Or they can convert a few on the bench of ManU.Jumpyjohn03-10-2026
- Opening a gap over Pidcock (who must know the course by heart now) on a technical descent must take some doing.Jumpyjohn03-10-2026
- This poll placed here is like asking something about Trump on Fox, really unbiased ;-)Jumpyjohn03-10-2026
- I will first look at results, not budgets to judge who is falling behind. I’m no fan of teams increasing budgets because others do, it’s an unhealthy spiral that can only lead to problems and complications. If cycling were as strict with spending rules as some other sports, UAE would now be digging themselves out a City sized hole.Jumpyjohn03-10-2026
- You forgot the probably fake doping disqualification at another Giro to ensure an Italian win. Probably worse than the individual hitting him to ensure a French TdF winner as it was orchestrated by cycling officials. I wouldn’t be surprised if mafia and betting had something to do with it but it was a smart enough tactic to avoid any kind of suspicion or investigation, almost impossible to prove but knowing the way the world and humanity works, completely plausible.Jumpyjohn03-10-2026
- You’re giving yourself away (as usual) with all the details and expressions we’re used to here.Jumpyjohn03-10-2026
- Ask Skjelmose, buy Seixas.Jumpyjohn03-10-2026
- It may look like that to you but I wonder. Given his strength, given the lack of commitment in front sometimes among some of the chasers, given his advantage on the climbs, given the small and changing gaps throughout, given a few more details we can assume, how come if he had so much energy to pull (and why would he just for the sake of those behind) he never rode a bit smarter or more efficiently by joining up with another group of chasers, either by detachment from wheelsuckers on the climb or falling back to other more collaborative chasers behind to form a bigger more useful chasing group. Something in all his work doesn’t make sense.Jumpyjohn03-10-2026
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