Derek Gee to Lidl-Trek a virtual done deal - Canadian rider in Spain and World Tour return looks certain

The 2026 transfer market is still far from finished and some of the big players are still on the move. Derek Gee is a name that has been circling around for several months since breaking his contract with Israel - Premier Tech, and his next destination looks to be quite certain.

Gee was fourth at this year's Giro d'Italia and looked to be on his way to race the Vuelta a España, but was a last-minute absence from it. This is because he terminated his contract with the team, citing issues with the management as the main reason for his departure.

Ever since, he entered legal trouble with the team owners, and the difficult position he was put in meant that signing a new contract right away was not possible. It is not known what the current status of his current legal process is, however his future in the world of cycling is not at risk and it seems as if his new team has already been decided.

It had been rumoured back in August that INEOS Grenadiers was the strongest option for him from 2026 onwards, however that seemingly changed over the past few months. The British team still has positions to fill, but Oscar Onley and Sam Welsford are likely to be the riders selected for these positions.

And Gee is most likely heading to Lidl-Trek, with both Daniel Benson and Ciro Scognamiglio reporting on his arrival to the American team's hotel this Saturday. This means a transfer announcement could be imminent. Gazzetta dello Sport adds that the Giro d'Italia could be on his schedule, where he could team up with Jonathan Milan.

Over the course of Friday afternoon, it was possible to understand that the Tour de France lineup will consist of, at least: Juan Ayuso, Mattias Skjelmose, Mads Pedersen, Mathias Vacek, Quinn Simmons, Giulio Ciccone, and two other riders that are not yet defined.