2025 TransRockies Gravel Royale
United States | Midwest | Ohio >> Retiring MotoGP rider Espargaro joins pro cycling team Lidl-Trek

Retiring MotoGP rider Espargaro joins pro cycling team Lidl-Trek

Former MotoGP rider Aleix Espargaro will join cycling outfit Lidl-Trek next year having only retired from motorcycling last month after some successful results on the road

Retired MotoGP rider Espargaro to joins pro cycling team Lidl-Trek

Spaniard Espargaro clinched three MotoGP race wins during a 15-year career on the motorbike. 

The 35-year-old begins his Lidl-Trek contract on January 1 and will join the side for unspecified "prestigious" cycling races.

"I'm thrilled to join the Lidl-Trek family, which is home to some of the world's best cyclists," Espargaro said, "After a back injury forced me to give up running I turned to cycling for recovery and training."

"Over time, it became more than just preparation — it became my passion. Living in Andorra, I made friendships with many pro cyclists, which inspired me to train at a higher level," he added.

You won't see him on the team's rosters, yet Aleix Espargarò's entry into Lidl-Trek has made a lot of noise, he's not just a simple brand ambassador and will probbakly try to qualify for the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships.

Team manager Luca Guercilena, wanted him on the team, "Discussions started with him in Andorra which is now at an epicenter for cycling, thanks to Carlos Verona who is a friend of his. He has often been a guest in our marketing events, then at a post-Tour dinner he mentioned his dream of trying life as a cycling rider, to be combined with his role as an image man for our company because he can give a lot in terms of visibility."

"So we thought of letting him try gravel races, even of the highest UCI circuit, mountain biking and maybe to see him engaged in some Granfondos, then we'll see how it goes"

"I believe that he can do really well in gravel racing because the stimulus of the world circuit can give him new stimuli. From what I've seen, Aleix has great riding skills and this is normal given his activity, clearly he pays the price in being in a group, it's one thing to ride with a few riders by your side, another to ride in the middle of hundreds of people. But he wants to try and we agree."

Espargaro's new Lidl-Trek teammates include former Giro d'Italia winner Tao Geoghegan Hart, Belgian veteran Tim Declercq and 2019 road race world champion Mads Pedersen.

The first major road race of the 2025 season is the Tour Down Under in Australia from January 21-26, 2025.

Retired MotoGP rider Espargaro to joins pro cycling team Lidl-Trek