Canadian Champion’s Arrival Boosts Lidl-Trek Climbing Strength
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Lidl-Trek has announced the signing of Canadian cyclist Derek Gee-West to a three-year contract,extending through 2028. This acquisition is expected to considerably strengthen the team’s climbing capabilities, especially in Grand Tour competitions.
Early Career and Breakthrough Performance
Gee-West first gained prominence during the 2023 Giro d’Italia, demonstrating a relentless attacking style and consistently challenging for stage wins. While he finished second on four stages, his performance earned him runner-up honors in both the points and mountains classifications, establishing him as a promising climber within the professional peloton [Cyclingnews].
Continued Development and Success
Over the subsequent two seasons, Gee-west continued to evolve as a versatile stage racer, improving his time-trialing skills alongside his established climbing strengths. A stage win and overall podium finish at the 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné, followed by a top-10 result in the 2024 Tour de France, highlighted his growing potential [Cycling Weekly]. He began 2025 with a victory at O Gran Camiño and delivered a strong performance at the Giro d’Italia, finishing fourth overall and confirming his status as a legitimate Grand Tour contender.
joining Lidl-Trek: A New Chapter
Gee-West’s move to Lidl-Trek represents a crucial step in his career, offering an environment conducive to further development and ambitious long-term goals.
“The ambition, the structure, and the depth of talent across the Team are extraordinary, and it feels like the right environment for the next phase of my career.”
“It’s pretty special to be joining Lidl-Trek,” said Gee-West. “From the outside, you can already see that this is an organisation operating very close to the gold standard in our sport, and that was something that really appealed to me. I’m really looking forward to racing with shared ambitions and multiple options within the team. Lidl-Trek have world-class riders across so many areas of the sport, and being part of a group where we can play different cards in stage races and Grand Tours is something new for me. I’m excited to learn from that, to keep developing as a GC rider, and to see what we can achieve together over the coming years.”
Luca Guercilena, Lidl-trek General manager, expressed his enthusiasm for the signing, stating, “Bringing Derek on board is a big boost for us. Over the last three years he has shown an incredibly high level in stage races, and we’re sure we haven’t even seen his limit yet. Derek will have the full support of our performance resources to fully realize his potential. As a Team, we have big goals across the entire season, and recruiting Derek brings us one step closer to achieving them.”
This signing underscores Lidl-Trek’s commitment to building a competitive team capable of challenging for victories in major stage races and Grand Tours.