"We’ll have to distribute them wisely for next season" - Niermann addresses Lidl-Trek role and their growing leadership dilemma
Cycling
Grischa Niermann is settling into his new job at Lidl-Trek. As with anyone starting a new role, taking in the change of environment, new processes and challenges takes some time to get up to speed with. The former Visma | Lease a Bike Head of Racing sees a familiar dilemma brewing ahead of 2027.
New Chief Sporting Officer Niermann comes after several successful seasons with the Dutch team, with the surprise move announced over the summer as Lidl-Trek's overhaul saw Andy Schleck appointed CEO and Luca Guercelina leaving the team.
Starting the new role on September 1st, Niermann has now just over a month under his belt and admitted that he's spent a lot of time observing and will begin to take forward steps ahead of the 2027 season.
"It's good, exciting, and a lot of work. It's exciting to take on a new challenge after so many years, and I'm looking forward to starting to plan for next year and getting to work," Niermann told journalist Daniel Benson.
"For now, I’m mainly observing how everyone does their work. I’ve already received some feedback, but my goal is to contribute my own ideas and insights when we start planning for next year.”
Lidl-Trek
Niermann admits tough decision to leave Visma
Niermann is credited as playing a major role in the success of Jonas Vingegaard at Visma and brings lofty ambitions to Lidl-Trek. He admitted that the decision to leave the Dutch team was not an easy one to make.
"I thought long and hard about whether to switch teams or stay with Visma—and the teams that preceded it—for the rest of my life. I had a really good relationship with everyone there, but I'm ready for a big challenge.
"It’s a fantastic team with huge ambitions, and I want to help build it further and ensure that we can achieve our goals.”
When it comes to the transfer market, he had a say in Visma's recruitment. With Lidl-Trek, that influence will grow in the future but the 2027 arrivals at the team were very much decided before he joined. In a busy transfer window, Felix Gall, Jordan Jegat, Igor Arrieta and Jordi Meeus are among the big name arrivals.
Lidl-Trek's growing leadership dilemma
“The selections were more or less already finalised before I signed. Not before I joined, but before I signed.
"That’s not my role in the project right now. That will come in the future. It was mainly Andy Schleck who was involved in that, and in the future we’ll do it together.”
Gall's arrival in particular means that the team now possess the Austrian, Juan Ayuso, Mathias Skjelmose and Derek Gee-West among potential leaders who featured prominently in Grand Tours this season.
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Squeezing in all riders' ambitions is a challenge for Niermann, who admitted that he experienced similar issues at Visma. With podium ambitions for Grand Tours a minimum, the 2027 plans have not yet been drawn up.
“I’m too far removed from it to say who has the most potential right now, but we have many riders who, at the very least, have what it takes to stand on the podium of a Grand Tour, and we’ll have to distribute them wisely for next season. But first, we’re going to evaluate the riders, and then we’ll make a plan.”
“Of course, it’s a challenge to come up with a plan where everyone can see their own goals. That’s a challenge, but it’s no secret that this was also a challenge at Visma.”
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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