New Lidl-Trek recruit gets assistance from Andy Schleck on path to recovery: "He was kind of like a personal coach for me"
Cycling
Lidl-Trek didn't make many moves on the transfer market past winter, bringing in only two men with previous professional experience. Although it was not the idea, both were connected by late start to a season caused by health problems. Soren Kragh Andersen's debut in new colours was delayed until May due to a tumor in his testicle.
That means no spring classics for the rider who finished 5th at Milano-Sanremo in the past. "It is a big disappointment not to be there for the team in such a crucial part of the season," Kragh Andersen said at the time, "but sorting out the medical issue had to take priority."
An important figure on Kragh Andersen's path back to peloton was former Trek rider Andy Schleck. As a fellow Luxembourg resident, he also received support from the 2010 Tour de France winner. "He was kind of like a personal coach for me," the Dane said in an interview with IDLProCycling.
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Kragh Andersen was brought into Lidl-Trek to become a key man in the Classics lineup, but he didn't get to race those at all this spring... "That actually motivated me even more, even though it hurt not to be there with them," he said. "I really have to thank the team for the support they gave me. It was a tough start, but that just makes you want to give something back."
"I am very curious how the legs will respond, especially after such an unusual build-up with all those other sports," he said ahead of Eschborn-Frankfurt. "But that decision will only be made once we see how I feel today. I definitely still lack some race intensity after being out for so long, so the main goal is to help the team and grow into the race."
Ultimately, the race went quite "well". Quotation marks because 52nd place obviously won't find a special place in the Tour stage winner's palmares. "To be honest, I’m happy. Really happy. I felt better than I could have hoped for," he said.
Kragh Andersen ended up in the second big group on the road after the climbing segement with leader Thibau Nys and teammate Albert Withen at the front, unsure what the right move would be. Ultimately, he admits that sprinting with Nys would've been the better call to make "The only regret is that we might have made a mistake by not closing the gap after the second ascent of the Feldberg. That was a shame, but I truly enjoyed being back in the race."
Kragh Andersen is currently lasted as a substitute for upcoming Giro d'Italia by his team. Is that a viable option or just a last-resort option for Lidl-Trek? Hard to say. But the 30-year-old would in any case love to get called up for Corsa Rosa: "I’m hoping for a phone call," he concludes.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- 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
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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