Wide range of tactical options for Lidl-Trek in the Opening Weekend with Skujins, Stuyven, Vacek and Milan, but without leader Mads Pedersen
Cycling
Lidl-Trek stormed onto the 2024 cobbled classics like a typhoon with stellar team performances lead by fantastic Toms Skujins, Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan. The deadly trio will not yet reunite for the Opening Weekend as Pedersen battles an illness that dragged him down in the early days of the season, however that doesn't mean Lidl-Trek won't aim for top results.
Both Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne are known for their unpredictability and that's why Lidl-Trek tries to cover every possible scenario with the lineups selected for the first two cobbled races of the season.
One thing that won't allign with Lidl-Trek's vision at Omloop would be if the race was to go down in a sprint since Jonathan Milan save his strength for Sunday's race. Therefore we can expect the Lidl logos spread across the whole road with its riders jumping in any promising moves to ensure they don't miss out on the fun.
For that purpose, they have brought a perfect lineup with two rouleurs Tim Declercq and Daan Hoole as cornerstones who should keep the race under control until the last hour of the race. Once on the cobbled sectors, Toms Skujins, Jasper Stuyven and Mathias Vacek are expected to lit up the race while Edward Theuns will neutralize the situation behind and wait for the final sprint. Tim Torn Teutenberg will debut on cobbles but if he can survive near the front, Lidl-Trek can bet on his sprint.
Even more tactical options open up before Lidl-Trek's tacticians at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne where, besides the strong trio Skujins-Stuyven-Vacek, Jonathan Milan will be a more than worthy replacement for young Teutenberg. Additionally, Jakob Söderqvist from Lidl-Trek's development team will join in as a substitute for Tim Declercq.
Lidl-Trek for 2025 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad & Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne:
- Tim Declercq (only Omloop)
- Daan Hoole
- Jonathan Milan (only K-B-K)
- Toms Skujins
- Jakob Söderqvist (only K-B-K)
- Jasper Stuyven
- Tim Torn Teutenberg (only Omloop)
- Edward Theuns
- Mathias Vacek
Read also
Men’s #OHN25 on Saturday pic.twitter.com/gOsOiUYuol
— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) February 26, 2025
#KBK25 on Sunday pic.twitter.com/caWEwrNvUN
— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) February 26, 2025
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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