Lidl-Trek on the hunt for Derek Gee's services as INEOS seems to have missed its opportunity

Thought the transfer market was close to closing in the middle of December? Not in the slightest. While the aftermath of the commotion caused by the Lotto-Intermarché merger is fading away with 2026 roster of the new team finally confirmed, there is still much going on behind the scenes of team's official presentations. In the center of attention are two men: Oscar Onley and Derek Gee.

Both had a contract for next year at their respective teams; Onley until 2026 with Picnic PostNL while Gee was to stay at Israel - Premier Tech (rebranded as NSN Cycling Team) until 2028. Currently it doesn't seem like neither of the two will wear its team colours anymore.

Oscar Onley's fourth place at the Tour de France generated massive interest among the top WorldTour teams and his Dutch formation, which was granted only a one-year WorldTour license by UCI, can't really stop the Scot from leaving. Despite multiple offers, INEOS Grenadiers emerge to be the strongest option on Onley's table.

With Sam Welsford apparently set to join the UK team as well, the roster for 2026 is full at 30 members. But that poses another question: Where is Derek Gee off to?

The Canadian rider was, like Onley, 4th at a Grand Tour (Giro d'Italia) this year. But following inner conflicts with Israel - Premier Tech, the 28-year-old fell out with his employer and broke out of his long-term contract that was to run through 2028. That's also why he hasn't added a single race day since National Championships in June.

His new home? It long seemed like INEOS Grenadiers was again a strong option... However with the arrivals of Onley and Welsford, there isn't room (and possibly budget) left for Gee anymore. According to journalist Daniel Benson, Lidl-Trek, currently at 29 riders signed for 2026, has come up with an offer.

The newly German-based team can definitely afford to bring Gee, even with his commitments towards NSN Cycling Team. But Benson points out further layers of why the Canada's champion perfectly fits as the last missing piece of the puzzle of Lidl-Trek's 2026 plans.

"Coincidentally, it was interesting that during the Lidl-Trek media day, no GC rider was positioned as the Lidl-Trek leader for the 2026 Giro d’Italia, with Juan Ayuso heading to the Tour de France alongside Mattias Skjelmose as a super domestique. The Giro, with its 40.2km time trial, would be well-suited to Gee’s skillset as a rider. The Canadian rider finished fourth in the GC at the Giro d’Italia in 2025," Benson highlights in his Substack.

However the plans of Lidl-Trek for 2026 still seem to be slightly under construction as their leaders Mattias Skjelmose and Juan Ayuso have colliding ideas of which Grand Tours should each of them aim for. What we can take for granted regarding Giro d'Italia is that home-favourite sprinter Jonathan Milan will try to add another to his 2023 & 2024 Points classification victories. His sprint train will certainly take up a part of the 8-man lineup for the race, but Gee (plus) can still fit in.