Lidl-Trek, Germany PR.: 04.06.2026
Source: https://racing.trekbikes.com/teams/lidl-trek
Lidl-Trek has announced a massive, sweeping management and performance overhaul that marks a completely new chapter for the organization. Propelled by the supermarket giant Lidl acquiring a majority stake in the team and moving its racing license from the United States to Germany, a series of high-profile leadership changes take effect across August and September, right after the Tour de France.
Executive Leadership Changes
- Luca Guercilena Out: The long-standing General Manager, who has been the organizational backbone of the team for 16 years (dating back to its Leopard Trek origins in 2011), is stepping down to allow for “fresh impulses and drive.”
- Andy Schleck as CEO: The 2011 Tour de France winner—who returned to the team as Deputy General Manager—officially steps up into the newly created role of CEO.
- Fränk Schleck in the Women’s Program: Continuing the family leadership transition, Andy’s brother Fränk has stepped up to manage the Lidl-Trek women’s team.
The Sporting & Performance Overhaul
Lidl-Trek has aggressively poached top-tier talent from rival powerhouse teams to build a hyper-modern, integrated high-performance structure.
1. Grischa Niermann – Chief Sporting Officer (CSO)
Arriving from Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Niermann leaves his role as Head of Racing to take total control over Lidl-Trek’s sporting domain. He will oversee Racing, Performance, Operations, and Technical/Equipment under one singular umbrella.
2. Dan Lorang – Head of Performance
Coming over from Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe, the world-renowned coach (famous for coaching athletes like Remco Evenepoel and elite Ironman champions) will report directly to Niermann. He will manage coaching, health, recovery, data, and AI. Lorang will also spearhead the development of the team’s new “Crivit Performance Center.”
3. Specialized Department Heads
- Nutrition: Martijn Redegeld joins as Head of Nutrition. He arrives from football giant Ajax Amsterdam, but previously spent five years at Visma | Lease a Bike, where his nutrition strategies fueled multiple Tour de France titles.
- Mental Performance: York-Peter Klöppel takes over the mindsets of the riders, joining directly from the elite Red Bull athlete performance network.
Summary: What was once a traditionally structured American-registered squad is fully transforming into a German-licensed super-team. By pairing the executive familiarity of Andy Schleck with the cutting-edge sporting philosophies of Visma and Red Bull alumni, Lidl-Trek is aiming to shift from a regular podium contender into a dominant Grand Tour force.
