How should we view Espargaró’s arrival at Lidl-Trek? "I have ambitions, but I will have to prove myself"

In the presence of IDLProCycling.com and otherwise mostly Spanish media, the interest in Espargaró’s transition was significant. Is his move serious, or is it mainly a marketing stunt? For Lidl-Trek, the media attention alone makes it a valuable acquisition. However, Espargaró made his intentions clear: he wants to make an impact in races while also taking on an ambassadorial role for the sport.

When asked about the moment he realized he could become a professional cyclist, Espargaró calmly replied. He had known for a long time that he had the potential and decided to retire early from MotoGP to sign with the prominent German-American team. "For a long time, it was just a dream. A few years ago, I was close to making the switch, but it wasn’t the right moment yet. It was the right decision not to do it yet, because at the time, I had just started achieving podium finishes and race wins in MotoGP."

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On social media, Espargaró has often been seen cycling with friends such as Carlos Verona and Marc Soler. The former, now a teammate at Lidl-Trek, seems to have been instrumental in Espargaró’s decision. "At the beginning of 2024, I reignited the idea. I decided to quit MotoGP for good. I started exploring opportunities. Off the motorcycle, I had been cycling a lot for years, and was making strides in terms of my cycling form. I realized there were opportunities in cycling," he explained.

The three-time MotoGP race winner eventually landed at Lidl-Trek. "Right before the Tour de France, we had the first talks with Luca Guercilena (team manager, ed.). In the end, we sorted out all the details, and I’m super happy about it." Purely in terms of his abilities, the Spaniard says he already knew he had the skills to go pro in cycling. Getting in at the age of 35, however, seems more difficult than at the age of 32, for example. The man himself also mentioned this. What will his role within the team be?

"I signed with Lidl-Trek, not with the development team," he clarified. "I’ll be part of the WorldTour team. It’s very hard to say which races I’ll be riding. I do know for sure that I'm going to the three Grand Tours and the Classics." As a rider? "No, let’s be clear about that. I’ll be there as an ambassador for this amazing team."

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"I want to see and show how the athletes from this specific team work and recover during major races. That’s new for me, and I really want to experience it." That means we can mainly expect the cheerful Spaniard to take on a communications role, but he will also actually compete in races himself. "I love racing. Over the past ten years, I’ve already raced a lot. Especially on the gravel bike and mountain bike. I will definitely continue doing that."

Then there’s the road. The veteran has ambitions in that area as well. "I’m going to train a lot. And then, after many rides and kilometers, we’ll need to evaluate together whether I’ll be deployed in road races. At the moment, that’s not a priority." Espargaró also wants to bring experiences from motorsport into cycling and pass them on to young talent. "The two sports have many similarities. I also want to show that you can always pursue your dreams."

Because Espargaró will definitely be part of the team. "You always have to keep believing in yourself. During your career, you get many opportunities. I’ve now decided that I want to try this, and it’s just possible. I think it’s also an example for anyone who has dreams. Also, I want to be a mentor for the development team, the best in the world, helping them grow as professional athletes and as individuals. Ultimately, I also want to be there during tough times, both on and off the bike, for the WorldTour riders."

In short, the MotoGP retiree is taking things as they come. "I’m a very positive person and always want to make people smile. Above all, I will be a team player. As for the more distant future, we’ll have to wait and see. Life is unpredictable, and we're not even in 2025 yet. We’re trying to think ahead. Right now, I’m living my dream. No stress, we’ll see how it goes. I will have to prove myself first, and then we’ll understand what my value will be. I’m impressed by how big this team is and how professional they are."