A year after Ayuso, Lidl-Trek once again signs a young Spanish climber from UAE Team Emirates

Arrieta turned pro with Equipo Kern Pharma and was already showing great promise at a very young age. At the age of nineteen, he gave Alejandro Valverde a run for his money in O Gran Camiño. That caught the attention of the biggest teams, and it earned him a transfer to UAE Team Emirates in 2024. He was brought along cautiously in his first two years, but this year he really broke through.

He finished third in the AlUla Tour and eighth in the Tour of the Basque Country, but the highlight came in the Giro d’Italia. In the rain-soaked fifth stage, he fought a magnificent battle with Afonso Eulálio. First the Spaniard fell in the final stretch, then the Portuguese rider. When Arrieta also missed a turn, it seemed all over—but with a final burst of energy, he clinched a sensational victory.

After his breakthrough year, however, he has decided to join a new team. “I’m really looking forward to continuing to develop as a rider in the coming season,” he says on the Lidl-Trek website. “I’ve improved every year over the past few years, and I think I can continue that growth at Lidl-Trek. I’m really excited to ride alongside great talents like Skjelmose, Pedersen, Ciccone, and all the other guys on the team.”

If he continues to develop, the German team will have a real winner on their hands. “I really hope to grow as a rider in all aspects of my races—on the climbs, on the flats, and in time trials—and I’m looking forward to earning my spot on the team. From the outside, it looks like a real family team, and I think it would be great to be a part of it.”

Manager Andy Schleck is very pleased with Arrieta’s arrival. Following the signing of his peer Ayuso, Lidl-Trek has thus acquired another Spanish climber from UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The Luxembourger singles out that victory in Potenza in particular. “The fifth stage of this year’s Giro d’Italia was one of the most dramatic finishes of the race, and Igor’s victory in Potenza really impressed us.”

The fighting spirit the climber displayed will serve him well. “It highlighted not only his talent and racing ability, but also his future star status. We believe Igor has a bright career ahead of him, and we look forward to working with him and following his development.”