Last year, he was spot on: Lidl-Trek team leader De Jongh names his spring surprise for 2026

Lidl-Trek has already been developing into a big team in recent years, but this winter main sponsor Lidl gave it an extra blow. And that means the possibilities and ambitions for lead sDS Steven de Jongh and his team are even bigger. IDLProCycling talked to him in Spain.

With, among others, Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan, the German-American team already had successes in recent seasons, but with the arrival of Juan Ayuso from UAE Emirates-XRG, the team has also given its grand tour ambitions another push. To that end, team, sponsor, riders and coaching staff are putting everything in place.

Steven, what choiches did you have to make this winter?
'After all these years we are used to that. You also shouldn't make it harder than it is: we look at the courses of the big tours and how that relates to our riders.'

Tell us.
'You look for a balance between the course, the goals you have as a team and the riders you have at your disposal and are needed for that. If you go to the Tour with Ayuso, is there room for a full lead-out with Milan? No. You take that into account then.

Last year we had the choice between Mads and Jonny, where the choice fell on Jonny and we went to Giro and Vuelta with Mads. All that didn't turn out badly, but now with Ayuso we have a podium contender. And you need strong riders for that, includign the team time trial.'

Overall, what does Ayuso's arrival mean for you guys as a team?
'We are very happy that he is here. We already had the ambition as a team to go more for classifications in big tours and with that came a lot of pressure on Mattias Skjelmose and Guilio Ciccone, who doesn't want to ride classifications, rightfully so.'

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You worked with Alberto Contador for many years. How do you see Ayuso, especially after such a difficult period?
'I have the advantage that he lives in Andorra like me, so we have already sat and trained together. So far he is super happy and we are super happy too, because we see a very relaxed and driven boy. With super motivation for 2026. He has it in him to win a big tour and that's where the ambitions are.'

Speaking of those ambitions, Lidl has taken over the license and, if I am correct, has also invested heavily in it.
'We have stability for a lot of years. Trek always needed a good co-sponsor to keep the team running and with Lidl joining us we have gone to a whole other level. The cadre has become much broader and people have been added in every department. In the coming years we will try to continue to grow.'

I remember when we spoke at the 2023 Tour start in Bilbao and you talked about a game-changer there. Is this winter's move another game-changer?
'Yes.'

Short and clear.
'They are even more involved. For example, our service course is going to move to Germany, in Bad Wimpfen, and there will be a whole performance center there. Furthermore, they are working with their partners to see what can be improved and numerous other things. Once again, we have broken new ground.'

A bit like Red Bull has such a hub in Salzburg?
'The plans I've seen look very nice.'

Thomas Rohregger, a former rider on your team and now an important man at Lidl, has taken good care of that.
'And someone from Bayern Munich will be there to take care of it. He may come from football, but in terms of performance you are talking about the top layer. Again: the plans look really very good.'

Lidl is also a sponsor with whom you agree on concrete goals for the season each year. What are they for 2026?
'Top 3 in the Tour, the points jersey with Jonny in the Giro and Mads in the Tour, more than 50 victories and a Monument win. So. yes.' (laughs)

Things have changed, especially in the classical team. Riders like Daan Hoole, Jasper Stuyven, Alex Kirsch and Ryan Gibbons are gone, how do you absorb that?
'Otto Vergaerde is returning to the classical core, but Mathias Norsgaard, Jakob Soderqvist and Albert Withen Philipsen are also joining. And Mathias Vacek has moved up a step in the hierarchy. We still have a very broad base and you also have to remember, for example, that Soren Kragh Andersen is now there fit. The holes are well filled, although of course we will miss Stuyven and Hoole.

How far do you see Vacek and Philipsen getting?
'Vacek had a lot of bad luck with crashes last year and I can definitely see him making that step to the top, if he stays healthy and stays on his bike. That really did hinder him and limited his growth. Now that they are in the program with Mads, I see them making a step mentally as well.

Albert is so young, but we are really looking forward to seeing what strides he can still make. From me the season can start. If you look at how he rode in the fall, I really do expect him to continue that line in the spring. He is very timid, while someone like Mads is much more outspoken.'

What role does Mads play in that?
'He really takes those boys with him. He sees the guys as protégés and guys who can take over from him one day when he says goodbye.'

You have one more rider you coach yourself and that's Quinn Simmons, who also rode a beastly 2025. What do you see him playing for?
'In the Tour he did a priceless job and the icing on the cake was the fall, with Montreal and Lombardia. So far he has had a very good winter and I certainly hope he can show himself in the spring, with the Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold Race as his main goals. And later of course the Tour and later the World Champhionships in Montreal.'

Finally, last year I asked you one name to keep an eye on and then you said Vacek. Who are you picking this year?
'Philipsen.'