OFFICIAL: Lidl-Trek sign not only Felix Gall, but his right-hand man as well into stacked 2027 squad
CyclingTuesday, 15 September 2026 at 09:55
Lidl-Trek has officially announced the signings of both Felix Gall and Gregor Muhberger. The signings had been previously rumoured on, but not even the most successful season of Gall's career could prevent him from leaving Decathlon CMA CGM Team.
"Felix has truly grown into his role as a GC leader, and it has been exciting to watch him take another step forward each season," team CEO Andy Schleck said in a press release.
Previously, both Gall and Mühlberger had been rumoured to join Lidl-Trek. This, despite the team's build of climbers currently including Juan Ayuso, Mattias Skjelmose, Derek Gee, Giulio Ciccone and Jorgan Jegat.
In a team where space already felt quite limited for the Grand Tour specialists, another piece has entered the puzzle.
"Since his breakthrough Tour de France in 2023, he has continued to develop his consistency, confidence and ability to perform at the highest level across three demanding weeks. In 2026, Felix has shown that he belongs among the very best, establishing himself as a genuine Grand Tour podium contender".
"But we believe there is still so much more to come. Together at Lidl-Trek, we have the ambition to keep pushing the limits of what we can achieve, and we're incredibly excited to see how far we can go together over the next three years".
Gall, the most consistent Grand Tour rider of the year
Short and to the point is one way to describe the 28-year old's season. He has raced only the UAE Tour, Volta a Catalunya, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a Burgos and Vuelta a España so far this year. His season revolved around the Grand Tour, with Paul Seixas' presence in the team eliminating the pressure for him to race elsewhere during the spring, thus allowing a distraction-free preparation towards the Giro.
There, he took another step in his development, finishing second on all five stages that Jonas Vingegaard won, adding to his second place in the overall classification. Gall was fifth at the UAE Tour, sixth at the Volta a Catalunya, won the Vuelta a Burgos and now rode to third place at the Vuelta a España. He has been the only rider to finish on the podium of two Grand Tours this year.
"With Lidl-Trek a new chapter in my career as professional cyclist begins," Gall added. "After wonderful years and the success that came with them, it is now time for me to take the next logical step".
"Lidl-Trek's high standards across all aspects of modern cycling align perfectly with my own goal of continuing to develop in the best possible way. I am highly motivated and inspired as I look forward to this journey together".
Felix Gall finished on the podium of both Giro and Vuelta this year
Lidl-Trek also sign Gregor Muhlberger
Whilst Gall signed a three-year deal all the way into 2029, the second piece of the Austrian pair, Muhlberger, signed into 2028. He himself has had the best season of his career, replicating Gall's form during the Giro d'Italia where he was consistently by high side in the mountain stages.
“Gregor will bring a wealth of experience to the Team over the next two years, but just as importantly, he brings the qualities every team values: loyalty, commitment and a willingness to give everything for those around him," Schleck noted.
"He is the kind of teammate who will put himself on the line for his leader without hesitation, while still having the ability to seize his own opportunities. As we saw at this year’s Lidl Tour of Austria, when that moment comes, Gregor is more than capable of delivering an outstanding result himself as well".
Notably, at both Giro and Vuelta, Muhlberger not once joined a breakaway despite his climbing ability, with Decathlon assigning him to stay with Gall and work for him when asked. He finished the Giro in 15th place and was in the Top10 of the Vuelta until he crashed out on stage 13 - despite his pure domestique role.
But behind the scenes there was a major disappointment, which he did not keep private. Muhlberger had been in the shortlist to race the Tour de France, and his exclusion had him post on social media regarding the non-selection, calling it 'devastating'. At that time, the rumours of a departure would gain traction. Muhlberger would win the Tour of Austria shortly after, racing for the Austrian national team, not Decathlon.
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"A small dream is coming true. The opportunity to ride for Lidl-Trek is a great message, a major milestone and another valuable chapter in my journey through professional cycling, which now spans more than ten years," the 32-year old said.
"I am thrilled and hope to make a significant contribution to the team in the coming years. For me, what matters is supporting team leaders at the highest level while also having the chance to race for my own results - I look forward to everything that lies ahead".
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.
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