Filippo Ganna on joining Lidl-Trek: Ineos is losing its time trial powerhouse

​It had long been rumoured, but as of today, Tuesday, it is official. Filippo Ganna will ride for Lidl-Trek from the 2027 season onwards and has signed a contract running until the end of 2029. This marks the end of an era: for eight years, the 30-year-old has been one of the defining figures in the Ineos jersey, having joined from UAE Team Emirates in 2019. His contract with the British team was actually due to run until the end of 2027.

Lidl-Trek continues to make acquisitions

This transfer is the latest in a busy autumn in which it’s almost impossible to ignore Lidl-Trek. Even before Ganna, the team had already confirmed a whole host of high-profile new signings, including Felix Gall, Gregor Mühlberger, Igor Arrieta, Jordan Jegat, Jordi Meeus and Georg Zimmermann. Space has been made for them accordingly: Giulio Ciccone, Andrea Bagioli and Tim Torn Teutenberg are leaving the team, whilst Bauke Mollema, Jacopo Mosca and Max Walscheid are bringing their careers to an end.

Not everyone is happy with this approach. Former team manager Patrick Lefevere recently accused Lidl-Trek of amassing big names without a clear sporting strategy. CEO Andy Schleck, naturally, sees things differently. Filippo Ganna is a key component in realising the team’s plans, and is capable not only of winning major races himself but also of making his team-mates significantly stronger.

Filippo Ganna: More than just a time trialist

Ganna’s career explains why Lidl-Trek goes to such lengths. He has been crowned time trial world champion twice, and has also claimed eight stage wins at the Giro d’Italia, two at the Vuelta and five at Tirreno-Adriatico. On the track, he won Olympic gold in Tokyo with the Italian four-man team and still holds the world hour record to this day.

What is likely to be even more exciting for Lidl-Trek, however, is what Filippo Ganna has learnt on the road in recent years. He has finished on the podium twice at Milan–Sanremo, This spring, he won Dwars door Vlaanderen. That is exactly where he sees his future: he cites the classics as his main goal, and, looking at the new squad, he says confidently that “nothing is out of reach”. The Grand Tours also remain on the agenda, partly as support rides, and partly as opportunities for stage wins.

Familiar faces in the new team

Filippo Ganna won’t feel out of place at Lidl-Trek. He rode for years in the Italian track quartet alongside Jonathan Milan and Simone Consonni, and has already ridden in the same road team as Consonni. The division of roles also seems clear: Mads Pedersen is the number one in the team, according to Ganna, and he wants to be a strong support for him. During the classics season, this could turn into a dangerous duo. A Pedersen who can count on a Ganna riding at full throttle in the final stretch is a real problem for the competition.

For Ineos, the loss of Filippo Ganna is a major blow

At Netcompany Ineos, his departure leaves a void that extends far beyond the results table. Hardly any other team has worked as meticulously on time trials as the British side. Coaches, engineers and athletes fine-tuned riding position, equipment and aerodynamics, often down to the very last detail. Filippo Ganna was not only the team’s most successful rider, but also the figurehead of this system. His hour record was the prime example of what can be achieved when an exceptional athlete and the development department work together perfectly.

For Filippo Ganna himself, however, the move also means a change of kit. He will have to adapt to new bikes and new components and fine-tune his time trial position with a new support team. Whether he can immediately maintain the standard he set during his best years at Ineos in time trials will be one of the key questions of the coming season.

One thing is clear: Lidl-Trek is getting a rider who can make a difference in almost any race format. Ineos, on the other hand, must reinvent itself – in the very discipline that has long been its hallmark.