Markel Irizar introduces our junior team line-up for 2027 and discusses the team's development philosophy
Lidl-Trek Junior Racing will enter the 2027 season with a 15-rider roster, continuing its mission to identify and develop the next generation of cycling talent while placing equal importance on their development as athletes and individuals. With riders from across Europe, the team will operate under German registration in 2027, with more than half of its roster hailing from Germany. The squad combines returning talent with promising young additions, all taking their first steps within the wider Lidl-Trek development pathway.
For Team Manager Markel Irizar, the philosophy behind the junior programme is clear: to provide young riders with the support, education and opportunities they need to reach their potential, without losing sight of the fact that they are still teenagers.
The philosophy is to attract, teach and coach, and help the riders be as good as possible when they go to the WorldTour. Most of them are part of our team but will also race with their club teams, so they will compete in their own countries and attend the big races with us. The idea behind this is to protect the clubs and the riders. We don't want them flying every week. We want to keep them focused on their studies and in their own environment. Everything goes really fast, but we want to be conservative regarding their mental development and education.
The approach reflects Lidl-Trek’s commitment to creating a sustainable pathway through the sport, allowing riders to develop at their own pace while maintaining the stability of their lives away from racing.
On the road, the 2027 squad promises a versatile mix of talent, with strength across the Classics, climbing and punchier terrain. Kristian Flaterud, Daan Ensenbach and David Aicher will lead the team’s ambitions in the mountains and general classification races, while Amon Rothe, Nick Ulrich, Riccardo Longo and Tommaso Cingolani will target opportunities on more explosive courses. The Classics contingent will be spearheaded by Valdemar Wagner and Julien Breugnot, with Mika Lohmar and Philipp Hackenbroch also bringing strength to the one-day races. All-rounder Mathis Möller adds further versatility to a squad which Irizar believes can be competitive across the calendar.
“We have a balanced team, perhaps more of a Classics team, but I think we can shine in all different types of races,” Irizar explained.
As with Lidl-Trek Future Racing, recruitment goes beyond results and power numbers. Irizar and his staff place considerable emphasis on understanding how riders race, their tactical awareness and how they might fit within the team’s wider philosophy. That ethos also extends beyond competition. All 15 riders have already visited Lidl-Trek’s new Service Course and Crivit Performance Center in Bad Wimpfen, an important introduction to the wider organisation and the opportunities ahead.
“It is important that once they join the team at 16, they know they are part of a big team with 91 athletes,” said Irizar. “We want them to feel part of a big family and a big team. We want to develop them as people, and we can’t forget they are our ambassadors. We like to win races, but we need to have good ethics and values.”
Looking ahead to 2027, Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the World Championships will be key objectives for the team’s climbers, while Paris-Roubaix and the European Championships in Denmark will provide major targets for the Classics specialists. However, victories are only one measure of success – the ultimate ambition is to see as many riders as possible progress into Lidl-Trek Future Racing and, eventually, the WorldTour.
“More important than the sporting side is the team approach,” concluded Irizar. “The ultimate goal is giving the chance to as many riders as possible to step up from our junior team to our development team. We want the impact of our junior team to be seen in our WorldTour team, to show we have done a good job at developing them.”
With a new season on the horizon, Lidl-Trek Junior Racing is building towards a future in which success is measured not only by the races its young riders win, but by the people and professionals they become.
Lidl-Trek Junior Racing 2027: Julien Breugnot, Kristian Flaterud, Tommaso Cingolani, Mathis Möller, Mika Lohmar, Moritz Schwarzer, Nick Urich, Aimar Irizar, Amon Rothe, Daan Ensenbach, David Aicher, Philipp Hackenbroch, Riccardo Longo, Sean Kings, Valdemar Wagner.
