OFFICIAL: Lidl-Trek sign two-time Tour de France top-10 finisher to bolster Grand Tour depth around Juan Ayuso and Mattias Skjelmose from 2027
CyclingFriday, 21 August 2026 at 16:42
Lidl-Trek have announced the signing of Jordan Jegat from TotalEnergies, adding another proven Grand Tour performer to a climbing group that already includes Juan Ayuso, Mattias Skjelmose and Giulio Ciccone.
The 27-year-old Frenchman has agreed a three-year contract through the end of 2029 and becomes the team’s first confirmed recruit for the 2027 season.
Jegat finished tenth overall at the Tour de France in both 2025 and 2026, achieving those results with a second-division team against WorldTour rivals operating with considerably greater resources.
His arrival means Lidl-Trek will have three riders from this summer’s Tour top 10 under the same roof. Skjelmose finished sixth, Ayuso seventh and Jegat tenth, with the latter ending the race 33:21 behind Tadej Pogacar.
From TotalEnergies breakthrough to first professional victory
Jegat turned professional with the Nantes-based Continental structure in 2022 before joining TotalEnergies ahead of the 2024 season. He finished 28th on his Tour de France debut that summer and had already shown his climbing potential by taking second at the Tour du Jura and third at the Giro della Toscana.
His breakthrough at the Tour came in 2025, when TotalEnergies initially expected him to target breakaways rather than challenge for a high position in the general classification. Jegat climbed consistently throughout the race before forcing his way into the top 10 through the penultimate day’s breakaway. It gave the French team their first top-10 Tour finish since Pierre Rolland a decade earlier.
A knee problem subsequently delayed the start of his 2026 season until April, but he returned with victory at the Classic Grand Besancon Doubs on his opening race day. It was the first professional win of his career, achieved ahead of Matthew Riccitello and Leo Bisiaux.
Jegat finished third behind the same two riders at the Tour du Jura the following day and later placed fourth overall at the Tour of Turkey. He then backed up his previous Tour performance by finishing tenth again, 4:41 ahead of Yannis Voisard in 11th. His switch to Lidl-Trek will take him into the WorldTour for the first time after three seasons with TotalEnergies.
Jegat in action at the Tour de France
Julien Bernard influence and new Grand Tour ambitions
Jegat revealed that Julien Bernard played a significant role in bringing the move together, with their friendship helping persuade him to join Lidl-Trek. “I’m really excited and proud to join the team,” Jegat said in Lidl-Trek’s official announcement. “I hope to keep improving, keep learning and reach my full potential over the coming years. I’m happy to join Julien Bernard again – he’s a great friend and played an important role in making this transfer happen.”
Although his three Grand Tour appearances have all come at the Tour de France, Jegat also has ambitions to race the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. “I won my first race this year, and I want to win again. I’m looking forward to discovering the Vuelta and the Giro, and to confirming my place at WorldTour level,” he continued. “I want to keep progressing and aim for even better results. Of course, the Tour de France will always be the race I love the most. I’m looking forward to helping the team achieve the best possible results. Can’t wait for what’s next!”
Lidl-Trek CEO Andy Schleck highlighted Jegat’s ability to combine strong climbing with the tactical awareness needed to remain competitive across three weeks. “Jordan has demonstrated a lot of qualities that have impressed us – consistency across three weeks, strong climbing and a smart racing instinct,” Schleck said. “He also has a mature, positive outlook and the right mindset for our team.”
The former Tour de France winner believes Jegat can make further progress once he joins a squad with established Grand Tour ambitions. “His two top-10 results in the Tour de France confirm his ability, but we think we can unlock even more from him at Lidl-Trek. We’re looking forward to working with him.”
Jegat will finish the 2026 season with TotalEnergies before beginning his three-year Lidl-Trek contract in 2027.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- A great career - he was so fun to watch. I remember when the "big 3" was MVDP, WVA, and JA. He fell off quickly after a few big crashes, but was always such a gentleman in interviews and to his fellow cyclists. And he showed real class in the Quick-Step break up.mij22-08-2026
- I hope Gall does well - seems like such a great guy. Mads too.mij22-08-2026
- Tadej is an entity unlike nothing else. one year of his career would be the palmares of an entire TEAM for a DECADE and they would be stoked.mij21-08-2026
- yeah just said the same about WVA, Sepp, etc and your points are good ones. As I said, I think every time but UAE would take the "problems" of Vismamij21-08-2026
- yeah I'll give you all of that but it could be so many things. A lot of the guys - WVA, Sepp, Victor C, etc seem quite happymij21-08-2026
- Jegat is not a top climber but simply a rider who can get into breakaways.
Rafionain-Glas21-08-2026 - Naïve dumboMistermaumau21-08-2026
- Everything here is just openly knowned knowlege about visma declining. We know griescha left, we know visma have no money and we know their roster is getting incredible weak and we know they cant keep up with the likes of RBH and LIdl even. I dont know what ur on about but this is all knowned by all nowmiguel21-08-2026
- Some signing make no sense, they already have Ayuso, Skejlmose, there were already grumblings then. Then Gall is coming, he is a genuine podium contender now, so should be fine, even though friction will increase. Gall and Ben also had differences. Now Jegat, he is in no mans' land, not good enough to win GC or stages, but good enough for top 10 , used as domestique early will be not good and will not survive the peak fighting on the last slopes. He is pretty good for teams fighting for points but not for Lidlabstractengineer21-08-2026
- Andrew August could be the next big American cycling star. I'd say he absolutely has the ingredients, but it's too early to say he's the guy. His development is one of the things I'm most curious about over the next 2–3 years. He's got a pretty unusual combination of youth, climbing ability, European experience, and already-proven winning instincts. He’s one of the more intriguing young American road prospects right now. We have to give him time. PS: You should also ask @frieder3, he knows everthing about American cyclists. They call him the "Human Encyclopedia of American Cycling."PogiSloFans21-08-2026
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