Mathias Norsgaard will join Lidl-Trek on a two-year contract, adding both stature and horsepower to a squad already rich in leadership. The Dane, standing at 2m02, leaves Movistar at the end of the season and becomes the tallest rider ever to wear the team’s colours. His move also strengthens a family connection, as his sister Emma joined the Lidl-Trek women’s team earlier this year.
For Norsgaard, the switch represents a chance to embrace the domestique role he has been seeking fully. A Danish time trial champion in 2022, when he beat both Mattias Skjelmose and Mads Pedersen, his reputation has been built on raw strength and long pulls at the front of the peloton. What he has lacked until now, he suggests, is a leader he could truly dedicate himself to.
Photo Credit: Movistar
“I’ve been looking for that one big leader I could fully commit to,” Norsgaard explained. “With Mads, I feel I’ve found exactly that. My dream is to help him win a Monument. We’ve talked before about riding together, but the opportunity wasn’t there. Now it is.”
Pedersen’s influence has clearly weighed heavily in the decision. “Over the years I’ve seen him become a leader like few others – you don’t need to ask him if he’s a leader, you see it in the way he talks to riders and staff. Mads likes big riders, and at 2m02 I think I can really help him in my work as a domestique.”
The move also brings Norsgaard closer to Emma, offering a rare chance for siblings to share the same WorldTour environment. “Hearing from Emma about how the team works only made the decision easier,” he said. “I’ve raced on the same team as my sister before, and it’s a crazy but special feeling. Sharing camps and races with her brings a lot of pride to my family, and I can’t wait to experience that again.”
Photo Credit: ASO/Oman Cycling Association/Thomas Maheux
Lidl-Trek general manager Luca Guercilena believes the signing adds more than just depth. “Mathias is a strong engine and we’re pleased to welcome him on board for the next two seasons,” he said. “He has the power to work on the front for a long time, but also the versatility to support the team deep into the finals. He has shown strong ability in time trials, and we believe there is still more potential to unlock there. Above all, Mathias is highly motivated to give everything for his teammates, and we are confident he will fit seamlessly into our group.”
With leaders such as Pedersen, Giulio Ciccone, Jonathan Milan and Skjelmose, Norsgaard will rarely be short of work. For him, though, that is exactly the point: a clear role, a strong team culture, and the chance to help Denmark’s best-known rider chase some of the sport’s biggest prizes.