Lidl-Trek announces ‘a new chapter’, with former Ajax and Red Bull staff; Niermann reacts after Visma exit

Lidl-Trek announced “a new chapter” in the team’s history on Tuesday evening. As had already become clear over the past day, Grischa Niermann — joining from Visma | Lease a Bike — is part of that. The German team is undergoing a metamorphosis, with CEO Luca Guercilena stepping back after the Tour de France.

“A new chapter” is beginning, Lidl-Trek writes. After the Tour de France, Guercilena, the face of the team for the past 16 years, will step down. “Because I worked with Luca already in 2011 as a rider under his leadership at Leopard Trek, I experienced his incredible dedication to this team from day one myself,” says former rider Thomas Rohregger, now Head of Cycling at Lidl.

“We are hugely grateful to Luca for the culture he built and the high standard he set. It has been a privilege to share this journey with him, and we are honoured to carry the passion he put into this project into the next chapter of the team. The path Luca has paved will continue to guide Lidl-Trek for generations to come,” Rohregger said.

“The drive for new challenges has always been the driving force in my professional life,” says the Italian. “After 16 unforgettable years, I feel it is time to pass on the baton and let the team enter the next phase with fresh impulses and a new drive that will fuel the hunger to push boundaries.”

“I am turning a page, knowing that I leave behind a strong organisation made up of great professionals, a group of athletes capable of winning now and in the future, and a strong and determined owner committed to taking cycling to the next level,” he says, referring to the Schwarz Group. “Lidl-Trek will forever be the team I hold dearest.”

The new CEO is Andy Schleck, winner of the 2011 Tour de France. “I have worked with Luca since my time as a rider at Leopard Trek and have experienced first-hand the passion, dedication and ambition he put into this organisation every day,” the Luxembourger says.

“I am incredibly grateful for the trust placed in me to lead this team of extraordinary people into a new chapter and build on the strong culture and winning mentality he has created,” Schleck said. His brother Fränk is expected to take charge of the women’s team.

From 1 September, Niermann will become Chief Sporting Officer at Lidl-Trek. The German will have full responsibility for the sporting side of Lidl-Trek. That includes Racing, Performance, Operations and Technical/Equipment, his new employer says.

“After working my whole life for the organisation now known as Visma | Lease a Bike, I felt it was time for a new challenge. The move to Lidl-Trek is a special opportunity for me personally, because it allows me to contribute to one of the most ambitious projects in professional cycling, one closely connected to my home country,” said Niermann, whose departure was explained by Visma | Lease a Bike CEO Richard Plugge on Tuesday in a press moment.

Dan Lorang, who will work directly under Niermann, joins on August 1 as the new Head of Performance. The Luxembourger spent years at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe and coached, among others, Remco Evenepoel there. In addition to his role at Lidl-Trek, he will also lead the new multisport centre “Crivit Performance Center” for the Schwarz Group companies.

“This project has all the ingredients for long-term success: talented athletes, ambitious leadership and an excellent team behind the scenes,” Lorang said. “I am looking forward to bringing in my experience and helping to further develop an elite sports environment that supports growth across all areas of the organisation.”

That is not all: Dutchman Martijn Redegeld joins as the new Head of Nutrition. He comes over from Ajax, where he was Head of High Performance, and brings valuable experience from his five-year spell at Visma | Lease a Bike, where his nutrition strategies contributed to multiple Tour de France victories.

York-Peter Klöppel, meanwhile, takes charge of the Mental Performance department. He comes from the Red Bull athlete network, where he has consistently helped top athletes perform in high-pressure environments.

“With this new leadership structure, Lidl-Trek is pleased to begin a new chapter focused on innovation, excellence and sustainable success at the highest level of professional cycling. Building on the exceptional foundation laid over the past 16 years, the team looks to the future with great confidence and enthusiasm,” the team concluded, with rumours also saying it is close to signing Felix Gall and Jordi Meeus for 2026.

Author: Tom van der Salm