Juan Ayuso & Giulio Ciccone lead congratulations as Lidl-Trek Classics ace announces he's becoming a father for the first time

Lidl-Trek rider Andrea Bagioli has announced that he and his partner Letizia are expecting their first child — a piece of news that quickly drew a flood of affection from across the peloton.

The 26-year-old Italian shared the update on Instagram with a photo of the couple’s small dog Maya beside a baby scan, captioned with the playful line: “Maya just found out she’s getting promoted to ‘big sister’. Our family is growing. We can’t wait to meet you!”

Within minutes, teammates and rivals alike filled the comments with their congratulations. Giulio Ciccone, Simone Velasco and Juan Ayuso responded with strings of heart-eyed and love emojis, while Jasper Stuyven and Daan Hoole added their own written messages of congratulations.

Bagioli’s announcement comes at the close of another strong season, rounding out his second year in Lidl-Trek colours. Long regarded as one of Italy’s most naturally gifted puncheurs, the Sondrio-born rider first turned professional with Deceuninck–Quick-Step in 2020, immediately winning stages at the Tour de l’Ain and Coppi e Bartali.

A second-place finish at the 2022 Il Lombardia cemented his reputation as a future Monument contender, while his 2025 campaign saw him back on the podium at both the Gran Premio Miguel Indurain and a key Tour de Pologne stage. With his ability to sprint from reduced groups and survive selective climbs, Bagioli has become a core part of Lidl-Trek’s hilly Classics and Grand Tour line-ups alongside Ciccone and Stuyven — the same names now appearing under his baby announcement.

Still just 26, Bagioli is entering the prime of his career, but his post shows that 2026 will begin with more than just sporting motivation. For a rider who has quietly evolved from prodigious Italian talent to trusted WorldTour finisher, the next few months promise to bring an entirely different kind of milestone.

As Daan Hoole's post simply read: “Congratulations, Bagio.” — a sentiment echoed throughout the cycling world as the Bagioli's prepare for life’s most rewarding climb yet.