The WorldTour team is expanding its promotion of young talent and wants to create a consistent structure from junior to professional level. Following the founding of Lidl-Trek Future Racing in 2024, the next step is now to establish its own junior team. The cooperation with the German regional association Baden-Württemberg will form the basis for the new programme.
Squad and structure
The squad for 2026 comprises 13 male riders. Ten athletes come from the German Cycling Federation, three more from abroad. Michael Hetteger from Austria, Leon Atkins from Great Britain and Julien Breugnot from France make up the international component. The German riders are Luan Elsäßer, Louis Joos, Timo Burger, Josh Tietjen, Sean Arnold, Noah Kunz, Baltasar Waldmüller, Moritz Schwarzer, Mathis Müller and Timo Zabel. The same sponsors who support the WorldTour team are also behind the junior programme.
Race calendar and equipment
The team wears a Santini jersey, which is based on the design of the WorldTour team. Lidl-Trek Junior Racing's first competitive outing will be at the Tour du Bocage et de l'Ernée 53, a French stage race for juniors on 28 and 29 March. Other races on the calendar include the Côte d'Or Classic Juniors in France, the RF LVM Saarland Trofeo in Germany and the RF Keizer der Juniores in Belgium.
Scouting and development
Josu Larrazabal, responsible for coaching, scouting and academy at Lidl-Trek, explains the advantages of the new structure. Registration as a club team makes it possible to take part in races that do not clash with the national associations. This allows the team to put together an individual racing programme for each rider. Daily cooperation in training and races provides important insights into the athletes, which should make the transition from the junior to the U23 class easier. The programme focuses on the long-term mental and physical development of the young riders and the continuation of their training.
Thanks to the German licence and the many German riders, the junior team could become a real opportunity for cycling in Germany. After many years of insignificance in international comparison, cycling in Germany is on the rise again. The establishment of the Lidl-Trek junior team emphasises this trend. One goal for German cycling, as well as for the team that has been founded, should be to be fully competitive again in the long term - also with the help of German talent.
Leon Weidner
Working student
