UAE boss reveals that team was close to signing Albert Philipsen but "Lidl-Trek was an ideal choice for what he was looking for"
Cycling
In 2025 bigger and bigger difference between team's budgets continue to emerge in the sport of cycling. Sponsors' investments are immediately noticeable (Red Bull with Roglic, Q36.5 with Pidock or Tudor with Hirschi and Alaphilippe, as examples). Another big change was the entrance of Lidl as the title sponsor of Lidl-Trek, and this played a big role in the team's signing of Albert Philipsen who looked destined to also join UAE Team Emirates - XRG.
At just 18 years old, Albert Philipsen had an offer from UAE. However, the young Dane preferred to commit to Lidl-Trek for a sporting reason. He wanted to continue competing in Mountain Bike and Cyclocross, something that the UAE team did not offer him and the American team did - having experience with riders who combine multiple disciplines already. UAE manager Joxean Fernández Matxín told this in an interview in AS:
"Albert Philipsen, I didn't talk to him specifically, the team did. He was looking for a multidiscipline that we couldn't give him because we don't have, for example, mountain bike or cyclocross teams. In his case, Lidl-Trek was an ideal choice for what he was looking for".
So far, at the beginning of the season, Philipsen has already shown very good legs and, for example, has managed to "snatch" from Pablo Torres the best young rider's jersey at the last Santos Tour Down Under, his pro debut with the American team.
Nowadays, riders signing for the World Tour are becoming younger and younger, and not only has Philipsen taken the leap at 18 years of age, but he is legitimately a rider who can already perform amongst the elite field. However his true potential lies in his multi-disciplinary abilities. A rider very similar to Tom Pidcock, he did not race cyclocross this winter but is amongst the best in his category of his age, and last summer he became Junior World Champion in MTB despite being only his second race.
Read also
Just in
NEW: WorldTour Manager Cyclinguptodate.com (FREE)
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!
Popular news
Latest comments
- Not all doping cases are equal. I've known Rob Stannard since he was a kid. His suspension was for a bio-passport irregularity. Rob presented both a plausible explanation and medical evidence that WADA was unable to discredit. However they refused to accept it and in the CAS case Rob was told unless he was able to replicate the irregularities perfectly then his evidence wouldn't be accepted. However this was 4 years later and your body's biomarkers are different at 23 than at 19, so it was literally physically impossible to do what was required and so he was sanctioned in spite of wada being unable to demonstrate he had acted illegal. All this is to say that not all doping positives are evidence of cheatingPCR036818-03-2025
- Not all doping cases are equal. I've known Rob Stannard since he was a kid. His suspension was for a bio-passport irregularity. Rob presented both a plausible explanation and medical evidence that WADA was unable to discredit. However they refused to accept it and in the CAS case Rob was told unless he was able to replicate the irregularities perfectly then his evidence wouldn't be accepted. However this was 4 years later and your body's biomarkers are different at 23 than at 19, so it was literally physically impossible to do what was required and so he was sanctioned in spite of radars being unable to demonstrate he had acted illegal. All this is to say that not all doping positives are evidence of cheatingPCR036818-03-2025
- Yes, seriously, Z2. First of all, the race isn't 8 hours, it's a lot shorter. 2nd, if the team is protecting you/you're sitting in the bunch at 45km/h, these guys are definitely in Z2vappaxbipmv18-03-2025
- I had a deviated septum. Legacy of falling out of a tree on to my face. The op which was basically a hammer and chisel job, took a long time to get over. Even now years laterI'm susceptible to infections on one side of my sinuses. During high pollen count periods it's worse. It always held me back at times when endurence cycling. It's an extreme cure and I hope it works out for Jai.Cyclingsbestfan18-03-2025
- What about Astana? Tejada was pretty impressive in PN and Fortunato too, he had a solid ride on the only real mountain stage of 2025 TA. And there's also Ulissi.heinz18-03-2025
- Ayuso seems to be all about himself.. 🤷
leedorney18-03-2025 - Hey CUTD, nothing against your favourite insider but it’s a bit disrespectful to quite a few ladies to highlight Urska both in bold and in the title!Jumpyjohn18-03-2025
- Ayuso no works for the others: usually he runs hidden in the back of the pack to avoid working. Maybe he's not a good teammate, maybe he reaps what he sows. Personally, he is one of the few riders that I find unpleasant.
maria2024202418-03-2025 - Thought I’d share a nice thread discovered on the subject of Mrs Trump’s nationality : « A country that is able to produce the humility and fearlessness of Matej Mohorič, the playfulness and rule bending of Tadej Pogačar and the ability to stand against adversity as Primož Roglič, has nothing to gain from the values of the first lady. And that is only cycling. Mute Report Sirtracy OneMillionMonkeys 8 Jan Tratnik looks as fit as me and has won a stage at the Giro d'Italia. If that's not inspirational, I don't know what is. Mute Report GrouchoBlondini77 OneMillionMonkeys 7 Fully agree. And you can add Jan Tratnik to the list of Slovenian cycling stars. What are they putting in the water there? Mute Report OneMillionMonkeys Sirtracy 7 How could I forget Tratnik. Thanks » By the way, Sam Bennett seems awfully quiet at the moment, any news on him anyone?Mistermaumau18-03-2025
- Based on desires and current rate of improvement he is likely to reach MJ level before the likes of (for starters) TP, JV & RE and even PR retire. It was not an exclusive list and I don’t claim to or want to know every discussable rider’s age unless it becomes necessary :-)Mistermaumau18-03-2025