"The week before I’ll compete as a wildcard in MotoGP in Holland" - Aleix Espargaró's highly-anticipated Lidl-Trek debut announced

Following his retirement from MotoGP in 2024, Aleix Espargaró is set to embark on a remarkable second career — this time on two wheels of a very different kind. The Spanish rider, long known for his passion for cycling, has signed with UCI World Tour outfit Lidl-Trek, and is now preparing to make his professional debut in the peloton.

The announcement was confirmed today by Lidl-Trek via a video released on the team’s official social media channels. Espargaró will line up in the team’s colours at the 2025 Tour of Austria, taking place from 9 to 13 July.

The news has been met with both intrigue and scepticism. After all, it’s highly unusual for an athlete from a motorsport background — even one as dedicated to cycling as Espargaró — to make the leap into elite-level professional racing. Nevertheless, Lidl-Trek appear confident in their decision, believing that Espargaró’s experience, discipline, and deep-rooted love for the sport will bring more value to the team than risk.

“I’m very happy about how this year has gone, completely changing my life and everything I did before,” said Espargaró to Lidl-Trek's official website. “It’s been amazing to be part of such a big team like Lidl-Trek. I’ve grown a lot as a cyclist and learned many things in these six months. I’m feeling good, and I really can’t wait to race and test my legs against some of the best cyclists in the world. I’ll have a strong team around me to show me the ropes.

“It’s also going to be cool because the week before racing in Austria, I’ll compete as a wildcard in MotoGP in Holland," he adds. "It will be a nice challenge, but I have no expectations for my cycling debut. I’ll try to learn as much as possible, help my teammates, and most importantly, enjoy the suffering!”

With most of the cycling world’s attention fixed on the Tour de France, which begins just days earlier on 5 July, the Tour of Austria provides an ideal, lower-pressure setting for Espargaró to test his legs in the pro peloton.

Whether this move proves to be a curious footnote or the beginning of a genuine second sporting career remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: all eyes — at least for a few days in July — will be on Aleix Espargaró as he trades leather and throttle for lycra and torque.