LONDON — Filippo Ganna will leave Netcompany Ineos a year early after eight seasons to join Lidl-Trek from 2027, the German WorldTour squad announced on Tuesday. The Italian, who was due to remain with the British team until the end of next season, required agreement from all three parties to terminate his contract early and has signed a three-year deal that takes Lidl-Trek's roster to 29 riders following Giulio Ciccone's early departure.
A two-time time trial world champion and 10-time Grand Tour stage winner, Ganna bolsters Lidl-Trek as a genuine threat for the Classics alongside Mads Pedersen in the spring. "I am really looking forward to next year with such a big team like Lidl-Trek. I am super proud to join and I really can't wait for the first training camp and to start the season in the best way possible," Ganna said. "After eight years with my current team, opening a new chapter is super nice and I feel great motivation for the season. I have big goals I hope to achieve with Lidl-Trek, particularly in the Classics – with the team we will have, nothing is out of reach. Of course, the Grand Tours remain an important objective, and I look forward to supporting the team whilst taking my own chances."
Ganna is the eighth confirmed new arrival for 2027 at Lidl-Trek, after Felix Gall, Gregor Mühlberger, Jordi Meeus, Georg Zimmermann, Jordan Jegat, Igor Arrieta and Héctor Álvarez. Newly appointed chief executive Andy Schleck said versatility was the key attraction as the 30-year-old heads towards the latter years of his career, able to operate as both leader and domestique. "Filippo is an exceptional talent and a rider who has consistently proven himself at the very highest level of our sport. His achievements speak for themselves, but what really excites us is the range of opportunities he brings to the team," Schleck said. "From time trials and the Classics to Grand Tours, there are very few riders in the peloton with his combination of power, experience and versatility. We believe Filippo still has a lot to achieve in his career, and we want to give him the environment and support to continue pushing his limits."
His departure marks the end of an era at Ineos, who he joined from UAE Team Emirates in 2019. Riding in the team's colours and on Pinarello bikes, Ganna won all of his Grand Tour stages, his two world titles, Dwars door Vlaanderen and broke the UCI Hour Record, whilst also maintaining his track career as an Olympic gold medallist and seven-time world champion.
At Lidl-Trek he will reunite with long-term Italian track compatriots Jonathan Milan and Simone Consonni, a partnership that could prove formidable in the lead-out train at the Giro d'Italia and beyond, whilst also linking up with training partner Matteo Sobrero. "I know Simo and Jonny from riding together on the track. With Simo, it's nice to be back together in the same team after many years," Ganna said. "With Jonny, it will be great to work with him as he is a super nice guy. Mads is number one for the team and I hope to be a good shoulder for him and also the other way round, I know he will be a good supporter for me."