The move comes at a time when Ciccone is in outstanding form. At the 2026 European Road Cycling Championships, the climbing specialist had to was only beaten by Remco Evenepoel in a photo finish and won the silver medal. At the Tour of Lombardy He confirmed his strong form by finishing third. Back in the spring, he had won the mountains’ jersey for the second time at the Giro d’Italia.
According to Ciccone, the move is primarily driven by a desire to seek a new challenge. “After eight years with the same team, this is a big decision, but one I really wanted to make. I feel I still have a lot to offer, and I needed a new challenge, fresh motivation and an environment where I can feel at home,” the Italian explained in a statement released by his new team.
He was particularly impressed by the atmosphere within the project. “Right from the first meeting, I sensed something special. It wasn’t just about figures, results or technical details. I felt genuine trust and appreciation,” said Ciccone. He is also looking forward to racing for the team alongside Tom Pidcock in future.
Team principal Douglas Ryder also sees the signing as a key building block for the team’s future. “Giulio is a driver who brings something you can’t manufacture: character, instinct and a genuine passion for racing,” said Ryder. With Ciccone, the team is gaining an experienced leader and a proven winner.
Lidl-Trek had already confirmed the departure of the crowd favourite a few days earlier. After eight years together, both sides had mutually agreed to go their separate ways. The Tour of Lombardy was therefore Ciccone’s final race in the US team’s jersey.
During his time with Lidl-Trek, Ciccone went on to become one of the most successful Italian riders of his generation. As well as several stage wins and two mountains classifications at the Giro d’Italia, he also won the mountains classification at the Tour de France and celebrated one of the greatest successes of his career in 2025 with victory at the Clásica San Sebastián. He is now set to put his attacking spirit and climbing prowess to work for the ambitious Pinarello Q36.5 project.
Lukas Niebuhr
Editor
