Fränk Schleck joins Lidl–Trek’s women’s staff, but Pidcock’s Pinarello reunion steals the spotlight

Lidl–Trek announced a headline hire for its women’s programme on Thursday: Fränk Schleck will join the sport director group from 2026, marking a high-profile return to the peloton for the Luxembourg legend. Not long after, Q36.5 Pro Cycling — Tom Pidcock’s team — upstaged the day’s news cycle by revealing a major new bike partnership and title sponsor with Pinarello, rebranding to Pinarello–Q36.5 for 2026.

Schleck, now 45, spent the final seasons of his racing career with Trek and enjoyed his finest years there, winning stages at the Tour de France and the Amstel Gold Race among other results. His palmarès later carried a blemish due to a doping admission, but his return to the sport now comes on the team car, alongside Ina-Yoko Teutenberg’s staff at Lidl–Trek.

As team director of Lidl-Trek's women's team, Schleck is now returning to a position in cycling for the first time after his career ended in 2016. His little brother Andy Schleck has been active in the peloton for years, including as race director in the Tour of Luxembourg, but we hadn't heard from Fränk Schleck for a while anyway.

"It feels amazing to be back", Schleck said in a Lidl-Trek press release. "This team means a lot to me, and there’s a real sense of pride and familiarity returning to a place with so many good memories. Personally, I want to contribute as much as I can on and off the field and help the team reach the next level. Success for me is seeing us achieve our collective goals. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’m looking forward to sharing my experience and knowledge with the team."

Transfer of the day announcement? We thought so anyway, but Q36.5 went over the top Thursday afternoon with the announcement of a new bike manufacturer. Pidcock's 2025 formation shined in its skin on Scott bikes, but the 26-year-old Brit will be delighted to see that his beloved Pinarello has committed to the team, with its bikes as well as being the main sponsor in Pinarello-Q36.5.

Pinarello was already bike manufacturer for INEOS Grenadiers, where Pidcock was employed until the end of 2024. On the Italian bike, he achieved great success on the road, in cross and on mountain bike. Yet in a press release on Wednesday, Q36.5 already spoke of "an epic three-year adventure" with Scott, which as a bike manufacturer is now suddenly without a high-level cycling team.

Pidcock, who also continued to use Pinarello in cross, mtb and gravel in 2025, now sees the brand return to him on the road as well. "I'm happy to be riding it full time again, it feels like coming home. I've always loved the Pinarello bikes over the years and have built a strong relationship with the brand. It feels like the perfect reunion", Pidcock said in a press release.

Fausto Pinarello, the bike brand's top man, calls joining the procontinental Q36.5 "more than a sponsorship deal". "It is a shared vision. We are proud of this step, with Pinarello also back at the head of the peloton as title sponsor. Together with Q36.5 we will continue to break boundaries in what is possible in cycling."

Besides Pinarello-Q36.5, INEOS Grenadiers will also continue to use the Italian brand for at least three more seasons. A party to be reckoned with, then, now that Q36.5 has also strengthened itself considerably selection-wise and will be invited to all major WorldTour races in the coming year as a well-performing ProTeam.