The team news that Osgoode, Ont.’s Derek Gee-West is now public, but riders on Lidl-Trek were definitely told before. According to directeur sportif and former pro Kim Andersen, the team’s established leaders — including Mattias Skjelmose — were told about the Canadian national champ’s arrival well before it became public. (This time.)

That marks a wee bit of a difference compared to an earlier situation this winter, when Skjelmose said he learned of Juan Ayuso’s move to Lidl-Trek indirectly. “I found out quite early, without the team telling me. I thought that was a bit strange,” Skjelmose told TV 2 Sport at the time.

Everyone informed before news was official

This time, however, there were no surprises. Speaking to Danish outlet Feltet, Andersen confirmed that the riders were kept in the loop as negotiations with Gee-West progressed.

“It’s been a secret for a long time, but they were informed,” Andersen said when asked directly whether Skjelmose knew in advance.

Gee-West’s arrival further strengthens an already crowded group of general classification contenders at Lidl-Trek. Alongside the Canadian national champ, the team can count on Skjelmose, Ayuso, Giulio Ciccone and Tao Geoghegan Hart — all riders with proven GC credentials in Grand Tours. The team is defo stacked…but management will figure it all out.

The Grand Tours plan

“That’s a task we have to work with,” Andersen told Feltet. “If we want to take the next step, we need to be represented in all the Grand Tours, also in the overall standings.”

Internally, Gee’s signing has not been a major topic of debate during the team’s winter preparations in Spain. “We haven’t really discussed it much. He just becomes part of the team,” Andersen said, saying that there has been no negative reaction from within the squad.

The key issue now is figuring out who does what. Ayuso is expected to lead at the Tour de France, while Skjelmose has been promised leadership in the Ardennes Classics and later the Vuelta a España. Gee-West, meanwhile, appears likely to focus on the Giro d’Italia.

Once more to the Giro?

“We’ve already announced who’s riding the Tour, and Derek has done very well in the Giro,” Andersen explained. Asked whether that points clearly toward Italy, he replied: “I think so, yes, that’s quite likely.”

At 28, Gee-West is coming off a solid past few years highlighted by fourth place at last year’s Giro d’Italia and his memorable run of four second-place stage finishes in 2023. However, since the whole Israel – Premier Tech saga, where he left the team in early August, he hasn’t raced. In fact the last time he pinned a number on was at the national champs in June.

But for Lidl-Trek, he now adds another strong card to the GC deck — one they believe can be played without blindsiding their existing leaders. (And hopefully they can change his national championship jersey before then, thankyouverymuch.)