Lidl-Trek have become the latest men’s WorldTour team to launch their own junior squad.
Lidl-Trek Junior Racing has formed out of a partnership between the WorldTeam and a German regional team, and will provide a talent pathway for 16- to 18-year-olds.
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The team will make its racing debut at the French two-day Tour du Bocage et de l’Ernée 53 on 28 March.
Commenting on the launch, Josu Larrazabal, Lidl-Trek’s head of coaching, scouting and academy, said in a statement: “Creating Lidl-Trek Junior Racing gives us a level of structure in our scouting process that we haven’t had before – one that allows us to detect talent earlier and give young riders a clear, supported pathway toward the development team.
“Because the team is registered as a Club Team it doesn’t conflict with races where national federations take part, which means we can build the best possible race programme around each rider.
“It’s also a significant step forward in managing the transition from junior to under-23 level. Just as we’ve seen with the progression of our U23 riders to the WorldTour, knowing athletes from race situations, from training day-to-day, from how they handle their lives outside of cycling – that knowledge is invaluable.
“This programme improves our ability to find and develop the very best junior talent, and I’m genuinely excited about what that means for the future of this team.”
Michael Hetteger (Austria)
Leon Atkins (United Kingdom)
Julien Breugnot (France)
Luan Elsäßer (Germany)
Louis Joos (Germany)
Timo Burger (Germany)
Josh Tietjen (Germany)
Sean Arnold (Germany)
Noah Kunz (Germany)
Baltasar Waldmüller (Germany)
Moritz Schwarzer (Germany)
Mathis Müller (Germany)
Timo Zabel (Germany)
