Following in her father's footsteps! Daughter of two-time Tour de France top-five finisher signs with Lidl-Trek for 2027
Cycling
Ane Zubeldia will take the next step in her cycling career in 2027 after joining Lidl-Trek Future Racing Women, the American team's newly established women's development squad. The Spanish rider will be part of a ten-strong roster featuring riders from eight different countries, with the programme designed to prepare young talents for the demands of racing at the highest level.
The creation of the new team represents a significant investment by Lidl-Trek in the future of women's cycling. The aim is to provide young riders with an environment in which they can gain experience, improve their performances and gradually adapt to the demands of professional racing.
Zubeldia, daughter of former professional cyclist Haimar Zubeldia, will join some of the most promising young talents in international cycling. Her new teammates include Italians Chantal Pegolo and Matilde Rossignoli, Austria's Tabea Huys, Luxembourg's Liv Wenzel and British rider Kate Richardson, alongside riders from Denmark, Germany and the United States.
The project will be overseen by Frank Schleck, who will lead the women's development team and believes establishing a clear pathway to the WorldTour is essential. The initiative is intended to make the transition to the professional ranks easier for young riders, giving them the time and resources to develop without immediately facing the pressure of delivering results.
Ane Zubeldia handed opportunity to progress towards the WorldTour
Zubeldia's arrival at Lidl-Trek Future Racing Women will allow her to develop within an organisation closely linked to an established Women's WorldTour team. Beyond producing competitive riders, the programme aims to help its young talents adjust to the tactical, physical and professional demands of elite cycling.
The selection of the ten riders was not based solely on their racing results. Schleck explained that the team also considered each rider's potential, attitude and willingness to learn. The programme will also embrace athletes from different cycling disciplines, recognising that there is no single route to becoming a successful professional road cyclist.
"The aim is to prepare them for the demands of professional cycling, both on and off the bike," explained Schleck.
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While victories will naturally be welcomed, they will not be the only measure of progress. Building confidence, taking on responsibilities and learning how to race effectively will also be central to the development of the young riders.
The team has already begun preparations with a training camp in Bad Wimpfen, where the development riders had the opportunity to meet their future WorldTour counterparts. The gathering provided an early chance to establish relationships between the two squads and begin building a shared team identity.
For Zubeldia, the move offers an opportunity to continue her development within an organisation committed to helping young riders progress towards the highest level of women's professional cycling.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- no one climbed like him years ago. and it is bs that he got better and better before his crash. he was not even able to hold the young guns at a distance anymore. he was in front at the beginning of the long climbs and then got reeled in. in 2027 he is another year older. this might not be the biggest issue. but the younger riders will have one year more experience and 25000 km more in the legs and be stronger than last year. so i stand with what i said, jonas will no way come in 2nd in next year's tdf.Ketterechts28-10-2026
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- Yeah, this is ridiculous. No one alive climbs like Jonas and Pog knows it. TT will come back this year. Remco will not be in the top 4Guavaking28-10-2026
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- That's also true.PogiSloFans28-10-2026
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