Lidl-Trek take the risk and sign injured Lennard Kämna - "We’re confident that he will return to top form"
Cycling
Lidl-Trek took a bet on Tao Geoghegan Hart last year and now does the same on Lennard Kämna. Two riders who sign a contract with the American team after suffering serious injuries, but Lidl believe they can make the best out of what the German has to offer.
“Lennard is a great talent we’ve been closely watching for some time. When the opportunity arose to bring him on board, it was a clear and natural fit for our Team," team manager Luca Guarcilena said in a press release. "His impressive track record in short stage races, combined with his proven ability to excel over the demanding Grand Tours, makes him a valuable addition. Furthermore, he is a strong time trialist, a quality which is very important when racing for general classification. Thanks to Trek’s team of expert aerodynamicists, this is something we can continue to work on with Lennard."
"While he’s still recovering from a serious crash earlier this year, we’re confident that he will return to top form – if not surpass it – wearing the Lidl-Trek jersey. Signing Lennard represents a significant step forward as we continue to build and strengthen our Team.”
Kämna is a stage-hunting specialist and is one of the few active pro riders who have already won in all three Grand Tours. He achieved this last year at the Vuelta a España but has also won in several other races. A talented climber, he prioritized stage hunting early in his career, but testing himself as a Grand Tour rider he rode a strong ninth spot. This year he was set to race the Tour de France but his plans were cut short in April where he was hit by a car in Spain on a training camp. He hasn't raced since, having suffered multiple injuries.
“With joining Lidl-Trek, I am now taking the next chapter in my career. The past few years have been quite important for me and now I’m excited about what’s to come," the German added. "I definitely want to continue my individual development in the coming years and I certainly want to win races. Of course, I am also realistic about my accident and the injuries I got at the beginning of the year. I’m looking forward to being part of a great team, which certainly has further potential that I want to contribute to with my performance."
It is definitely a gamble, the American team agreed on a three-year contract. "And I’m looking forward to reuniting with team mates I’ve known for a long time from my first year as a pro – Mads Pedersen and Alex Kirsch. All in all, top pre-requisites for lots of fun on and off the bike and hopefully great achievements together.”
Read also
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 2visitors 2
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
Loading
We're thrilled to announce that triple Grand Tour stage winner @lennardkaemna is joining Lidl-Trek on a three year contract 🤩📈 📰Hear from Lennard: racing.trekbikes.com/stories/lidl-t…
Write a comment