A video of MotoGP star Aleix Espargaró – who spent last summer moonlighting as a pro cyclist for Lidl-Trek – overtaking motorists on a descent in Spain during a training ride has attracted controversy on social media, prompting Lidl-Trek to “speak directly” to their ambassador about his behaviour on the road.
Earlier this week, Museu Motos Folgado, the Instagram account of a motorcycle museum based in Girona, posted a clip of a cyclist, wearing full Lidl-Trek kit, passing two car drivers while descending Els Àngels, a popular climb near the cycling hub of Girona.
“A cyclist rips off my stickers!” the account posted alongside the video.
The rider in question was soon identified in the comments as Espargaró, the MotoGP racer who joined Lidl-Trek as an ambassador at the start of 2025.
Aleix Espargaro overtaking motorist on a descent in Spain
After spending a few months training with the team and being coached by the squad’s performance staff (while also racing the British and Spanish round of the MotoGP championship for Honda), the 36-year-old signed a deal with Lidl-Trek’s development squad in the summer.
On his non-motorised bike, he took part in the Tour of Austria in July, withdrawing on stage three, before finishing 57th at the Circuito de Getxo the following month.
While he initially aimed to combine his roles at Lidl-Trek and as a test racer for Honda, in November Espargaró announced that his brief stint as a pro cyclist was over, after Honda urged him to focus on MotoGP for 2026.
Nevertheless, Espargaró continues to train on his bike with Lidl-Trek – hence the very pro look he was sporting when he was filmed on Els Àngels on Sunday.
The clip itself has divided opinion, with some criticising Espargaró’s actions, one Instagram user describing the Catalan racer as a “clown”.
“Then they ask for a metre and a half,” another wrote, referring to the 1.5m safe passing distance recommended in most countries to motorists when overtaking cyclists.
Others, however, weren’t as critical of Espargaró’s overtaking skills.
“Okay, the cyclist should not go like this, totally agree – but if he was a motorcyclist or a car driver you would say he is a good driver and applaud him, why the hypocrisy?” asked Manuel.
“I say it because in many motorcycle and car videos I see such comments, but when it comes to cyclists the phrases change.”
Aleix Espargaró (Lidl-Trek)
However, the video has attracted the attention of Lidl-Trek, who have issued a statement distancing themselves from the descending technique of their ambassador.
“We are aware of the images circulating this week on social media and we want to be very clear: the behaviour shown by Aleix Espargaró does not reflect the values or standards that govern us as a team,” the WorldTour squad said in a statement provided to El País.
“We take this matter very seriously and are in the process of speaking directly with the rider.”
Espargaró is yet to publicly address the issue, despite sharing an Instagram post on Monday of him training with other Lidl-Trek riders in Andorra.
The MotoGP racer’s vital video comes five months after Equipo Kern Pharma rider Kiko Galván was disciplined, and later sacked, by the Spanish team after social media footage emerged showing him bunny-hopping over a raised lane barrier, jumping into the oncoming lane, during a training ride, also in Catalonia.
Kiko Galvan bunnyhop
Kern Pharma were quick to condemn Galván’s behaviour, saying in an Instagram comment: “We deeply regret and apologise for an action that does not reflect the values we promote: respect for road safety, which is fundamental to our sport and central to our work both competitively and educationally. We take full responsibility.”
In December, Galván revealed that he had been dismissed by the team over the incident, and that he was retiring from the sport.
“I made a mistake. A mistake has consequences, and I’m paying for them,” the 28-year-old, who has raced one gravel event this year since leaving Kern Pharma, said.