In two months, Italy will no longer have any Italian leading a WorldTour team. At the end of the Tour de France, Luca Guercilena will leave Lidl-Trek, the team of which he has been the soul for over 15 seasons.
An era ends for the team in which Jonathan Milan and Giulio Ciccone compete, as well as for Italian cycling, while rumors about the 52-year-old from Cassinetta di Lugagnano are becoming increasingly insistent that he could inherit the role that until recently belonged to Mauro Vegni and thus work actively on revitalizing the Giro d'Italia.
With an official statement, the German team has just announced that the current general manager will hand over the leadership of the squad at the end of the Grande Boucle, thus marking the conclusion of an extraordinary chapter and the beginning of a new professional journey. Since the team's first inception in 2010, Luca has been one of the key figures in the identity, culture, and growth of Lidl-Trek. Through his vision, passion, and unwavering dedication, he has helped transform the organization from an ambitious project into one of the most respected teams in professional cycling, leaving a legacy that will continue to shape the team for years to come.
«Having already worked with Luca in 2011 as a rider under his guidance at Leopard Trek, I have personally experienced his incredible dedication to this team from day one» said Thomas Rohregger, head of cycling at Lidl. «We are deeply grateful for the culture that Luca has built and for the standards of excellence he has set. It has been a privilege to share this journey with him and we are honored to carry forward the passion he has poured into this project in the next chapter of the team. The path that Luca has opened will continue to guide Lidl-Trek for generations to come. He will forever remain closely connected to our team».
Roger Gierhart, vice president of Trek Bicycles and sole owner of the team from 2016 to 2025, added: «No one has done more for Trek's road racing than Luca has. Under his guidance, both the men's and women's teams have distinguished themselves through professionalism, integrity, and team spirit—qualities that have materialized on race days in countless breathtaking victories. The vision he has outlined will continue to guide Lidl-Trek in the years to come. His legacy is undeniable. We are deeply grateful to him for everything he has given to Trek and wish him every success in the next chapter of his journey».
Guercilena joined the team since its founding, serving as sporting director for the 2011 season of Leopard Trek. His tactical expertise and background in sports science were instrumental in the team's early successes, led by Fabian Cancellara, laying the groundwork for his promotion to general manager in 2013. Under his guidance, which lasted 13 years, the team successfully navigated various structural evolutions: from RadioShack-Leopard to Trek Factory Racing, Trek-Segafredo, and finally Lidl-Trek. Riders and staff appreciate Luca for his accessible, people-focused management style, and his results reflect a consistent standard of excellence. Under his leadership, the team has solidified its place among the top WorldTour contenders, celebrating over 350 victories in the professional ranks, including multiple world championships and monuments, as well as stage wins and classification jerseys in all three Grand Tours.
«The desire for new challenges has always been the driving force of my professional life» said Luca Guercilena. «After 16 unforgettable years, I feel that the time has come to pass the baton and allow the team to face its next phase with new impulses and fresh energy that will fuel the desire to continue pushing boundaries. I turn the page knowing I am leaving behind a solid organization made up of great professionals, a group of athletes capable of winning now and in the future, and a strong and determined ownership committed to taking cycling to the next level. The team has given me incredible emotions thanks to the athletes, staff, sponsors, and owners, from whom I have always received tremendous support, especially during difficult times. Lidl-Trek will forever be the team closest to my heart».
Luca Guercilena will remain fully active in his role until the 2026 Tour de France.
Starting August 1st, former pro Andy Schleck will officially assume the new position of chief executive officer, and from September 1st the team will welcome Grischa Niermann from Visma Lease a Bike as the new Chief Sporting Officer.
Working directly under Niermann's guidance, Dan Lorang will join the team as the new Head of Performance starting August 1st, overseeing athletic preparation, nutrition, health, recovery and athletics, as well as data and artificial intelligence. Lorang arrives after a period of great success as Head of Performance at Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe and as the strategic mind behind numerous Ironman champions.
Martijn Redegeld will join the organization as the new Head of Nutrition, coming from the powerful Ajax Amsterdam football club and bringing with him invaluable experience gained during five years at Team Visma | Lease a Bike, where his nutritional strategies contributed to numerous Tour de France victories.
York-Peter Klöppel will assume responsibility for the Mental Performance department, after having shaped the mindset of elite Red Bull-sponsored athletes to succeed in high-pressure environments.
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