Team Manager Markel Irizar explains Lidl-Trek Future Racing's plans for 2027 and introduces the new roster
Lidl-Trek Future Racing returns for 2027 with a 16-rider roster, combining some of the most promising young talents in the peloton with familiar faces looking to take the next step towards the WorldTour.
Under the guidance of Team Manager Markel Irizar, the U23 development team will continue its mission of identifying, nurturing and preparing the next generation of professional cyclists, providing a pathway towards Lidl-Trek’s WorldTour ranks.
For Irizar, the team’s purpose extends well beyond delivering results. Developing riders who understand the demands of racing at the highest level, both physically and tactically, remains the overriding priority.
“The philosophy of the Development team is to develop the next generation of talent, with the hope that they can move up and meet the needs of the WorldTour team,” explained Irizar.
Knowing them and their personalities in advance helps a lot and is super important, both performance-wise and personally. Being with them from a young age helps us make the best decisions to meet the needs of the WorldTour team, not only this year but in the coming years.
The 2027 roster brings together riders from 11 nations, offering a balance of climbing talent, Classics specialists, time trialists and versatile all-rounders.
Among the team’s exciting prospects is Austrian Michael Hettegger, who arrives with an impressive junior pedigree, including silver medals at the World Championships in the time trial and European Championships in mountain biking. He will join Jack Ward and Harry Hudson among the team’s general classification talents, with climbers Hugh Óg Mulhearne and Andrea Bessega providing valuable support in the mountains.
For the Classics, Lidl-Trek Future Racing can call upon Seb Grindley, Thor Michielsen and Mats Vanden Eynde, alongside punchy, fast finishers Eñaut Urkaregi and Gabriele Scagliola. Patrick Frydkjær brings valuable leadership and tactical experience, while Leon Atkins arrives from the junior ranks with significant time trial potential.
The versatile contingent is completed by Benedikt Benz, Luan Elsäßer, Eike Behrens and Rodrigo Jesus, giving the team strength across a varied racing calendar.
Identifying the right riders, however, involves looking beyond numbers alone.
“Normally we select the riders knowing their power data and results, using a combination of both,” explained Irizar. “I try to go to races and see them racing, how they position and how they are tactically, as well as their personality and how they would fit in the group.”
Once within the team, the emphasis turns towards equipping riders with the experience and race intelligence required to succeed at WorldTour level.
“We are a kind of school and the goal is to try and accelerate the learning process and make them learn everything before they go to WorldTour,” said Irizar.
The 2027 calendar will offer plenty of opportunities to put those lessons into practice. Paris-Roubaix Espoirs and Gent-Wevelgem U23 will be major targets for the Classics specialists, while Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 and the Ardennes races provide opportunities for the climbers.
The Giro Next Gen will be another important objective, with the Tour de l’Avenir, World Championships, European Championships in Denmark and Paris-Tours also firmly on the team’s radar.
But ultimately, success will be measured by more than victories.
“One of the main goals is to develop as many riders as possible to go to the WorldTour,” concluded Irizar. “We would like to give the chance to as many of them as possible, whether that is in this team or not. We have done well at this historically right from our first generation, and we want to keep working in this way.”
With a new season approaching, Lidl-Trek Future Racing remains committed to its ambition: developing not just the next generation of winners, but also the next generation of WorldTour professionals.
Lidl-Trek Future Racing roster: Leon Atkins, Eike Behrens, Benedikt Benz, Andrea Bessega, Luan Elsäßer, Patrick Frydkjær, Seb Grindley, Michael Hetteger, Harry Hudson, Rodrigo Jesús, Thor Michielsen, Hugh Óg Mulhearne, Gabriele Scagliola, Eñaut Urkaregi, Mats Vanden Eynde, Jack Ward.
