Two Austrians but above all two friends will strengthen the group of climbers and stage race specialists of Lidl-Trek in the coming years: Felix Gall – already second at the Giro d'Italia and on the podium at the Vuelta a España – and his Austrian compatriot Gregor Mühlberger are joining the team together.

Gall, 28 years old, has signed a three-year contract valid until 2029, while Mühlberger, four years his senior, has signed a two-year agreement until 2028. The two, in addition to being teammates, are great friends; they will bring vast experience to the team and boast excellent climbing abilities in the Grand Tours, characteristics that align perfectly with their Austrian origins.

Together they have taken a further step forward in the 2026 season (still ongoing): Gall has reached the podium at both the Giro and the Vuelta, while Mühlberger – a valuable domestique in Italy, where he finished 15th in the general classification – won the Lidl Tour of Austria, dominating the race.

"Gregor will bring great experience to the team over the next two years but, equally important, he possesses the qualities that every team appreciates: loyalty, commitment and the willingness to give everything for his teammates. He is the type of rider ready to put himself at the service of his leader without hesitation, while maintaining the ability to seize personal opportunities. As we saw at this year's Lidl Tour of Austria, when the moment is right, Gregor is perfectly capable of achieving prestigious results in his own right", commented CEO Andy Schleck regarding Mühlberger's arrival, then adding about Gall: "Felix has grown enormously in the role of general classification leader and it has been exciting to see him make progress season after season. Since his breakthrough at the 2023 Tour de France, he has continued to improve in terms of consistency, confidence and the ability to perform at the highest levels over three demanding weeks. In 2026, Felix has proven he belongs to the elite of cycling, establishing himself as a serious podium contender in the Grand Tours. But we believe there is still much more to achieve. Together, at Lidl-Trek, we have the ambition to continue pushing beyond the limits of what we can achieve and we are excited to see how far we can go together over the next three years".

Gall was already one of cycling's greatest talents as a teenager, becoming world junior road champion in Richmond (USA) in 2015. Since then, he has grown as a rider in a healthy and consistent manner – spending five years in teams now known as Picnic-PostNL and Decathlon-CMA CGM – until reaching his current level and now joining Lidl-Trek with great ambitions.

"With Lidl-Trek, a new chapter begins in my professional cycling career. After wonderful years and the successes that have accompanied them, it is time to take the next logical step. Lidl-Trek's high standards in every aspect of modern cycling align perfectly with my goal of continuing to grow in the best possible way. I am extremely motivated and inspired by the idea of embarking on this journey together".

Mühlberger is also enthusiastic: after spending five years between Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe and Movistar Team, he transferred to Decathlon-CMA CGM for the 2026 season to join his friend, and now arrives with him at Lidl-Trek. "A small dream comes true. The opportunity to race for Lidl-Trek represents an important signal, a fundamental milestone and another precious chapter in my professional cycling journey, which has now lasted over ten years. I am excited and hope to make a significant contribution to the team in the coming years. For me, what matters is supporting the captains at the highest levels, while also having the opportunity to pursue personal results: I can't wait to face everything that awaits me".

photo Christian Forcher - Lidl Trek