“The direction of the team changed. We’re going in a different direction" - Andy Schleck defends Lidl-Trek promotion after Guercilena forced out
Cycling
Andy Schleck has defended his fast-track to CEO of Lidl-Trek after the team's management re-shuffle saw longtime boss Luca Guercilena forced out of the setup. The ex-professional rider was appointed to the new role, taking over from Guercelina's general manager role.
His rise to the new position came as a surprise to many in the cycling world after a relatively short period with the setup. Since retiring in 2014, the Luxembourg native worked with the Tour of Luxembourg organisation before joining Lidl-Trek as deputy general manager last December.
Speaking before the 2026 Tour de France Grand Depart, Schleck defended his rise to prominence within the structure, noting his duties with the Tour of Luxembourg and outlining his qualifications for the CEO position.
“You have to start with some way if you’re going to do this, but looking back over the last 15 years I wasn’t sitting on the couch playing PlayStation,” Schleck told reporters.
Schleck defends Lidl-Trek promotion
“I built different things and the Tour of Luxembourg is also a structure with 300 people, we have the Gran Fondos too and it’s about bringing people together, building bridges between, and also with the shops so I’ve been active behind the scenes.
“In cycling I’ve been active from being a rider, since being a kid from a small country growing up in the WorldTour, to winning big races, retiring and then building up. By having gone through all these stages, it’s given me the qualifications to lead a team like this.”
When it comes to Guercilena's departure and the team's changing focus, noting that Lidl's acquisition of the outfit resembled a shift in their priorities.
“Maybe I’m the wrong person to ask, but the acquisition of the team by Lidl as a majority certainly made the team go in certain direction than before," he said.
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“Before, Lidl-Trek was really focused on Classics as a team. We did Grand Tours but with focus on winning stages and green jerseys. We still have those goals, but now we want to be competitive in more than just Classics."
Schleck implied that perhaps Guercilena also had a shift in priorities or a longing for a new challenge. He added: “The direction of the team changed. We’re going in a different direction, but maybe you need to ask Luca, and he understood; he brought the team to a certain level, and maybe this was the end of the road for him in this position. 15 years is also a long time. Maybe he also wants a new challenge.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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