"We have taken a step forward compared to previous seasons" - Lidl-Trek DS on 2024, Mads Pedersen, Jonathan Milan and Tao Geoghegan Hart
Cycling
Lidl-Trek have had a boost in budget and also had a boost in performance this season. Luca Guercilena, team DS, has evaluated this past season and looks into some of it's leaders, who will also be heading the team in 2025.
"It was an important year, which we closed close to the podium [of the UCI rankings]. We have taken a step forward compared to previous seasons and now the goal is to continue to grow," Guercilena told RadioSport. This came along with the entrance of Lidl as a title sponsor, which allowed the team to make some important signings whilst retaining all it's leaders. Now they will have another season with a lot of promise, coming specially from it's sprinters and classics riders.
The evolution of young riders such as Thibau Nys and Mathias Vacek; the consistency of Toms Skujins in the big races have added to the big leaders of the team. The team has signed Jonathan Milan who has shown his colours and had a brilliant leadout backing him up.
“He is a confirmed talent. But we think he still has room for improvement and can pursue important goals," Guercilena said of the Italina. "Sprints remain his main talent, but we want to make him a Classics athlete and make him competitive in races that have global relevance. We believe he has the characteristics to certainly be a protagonist in races like Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders“.
Mads Pedersen led the classics with more strong performances, as well as fighting for sprints in other races of the season. The two also collaborated very well when racing together, such as the Gent-Wevelgem triumph over Mathieu van der Poel. “Unfortunately he had a serious fall at the Tour de France, which then limited him in the pursuit of the Green Jersey goal he had. But his was a very positive season overall”, Guercilena commented on the Dane’s 2024.
But despite this talent in the one-day races, the team also has ambitions for the Grand Tours with three different riders, who will allow for more ambitions into the coming season. "We had to deal with some injuries, first of all that of Tao Geoghegan Hart, who came to us after the problems he had in 2023 and who had to absorb another couple of episodes that limited his performance," he continued.
"Giulio Ciccone then had problems before the Giro d'Italia, which was initially his big goal of the season. Fortunately Mattias Skjelmose, who we were counting on for the Vuelta a España, did well, finishing fifth and taking home the White Jersey for best young rider. There are good prospects for him, even if we are aware of the fact that he has top-level athletes ahead of him”.
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Cappuccinos to go this morning! ☕️ pic.twitter.com/i75LgsMng4
— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) December 9, 2024
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