Derek Gee was one of Lidl-Trek‘s star signings this winter but he has not been having an easy first few months with the team. After the end of 2025 saw him without a team and a coach for several months after his departure from NSN Cycling Team – then Israel – Premier Tech – an illness bout has jeopardized his preparation towards the Giro d’Italia.The Canadian national champion started off his season at the UAE Tour where he achieved a solid 7th place in the overall classification. However, he was planning on showing better form at Milano-Torino and specially the Volta a Catalunya where the Giro candidates were gathering, with a better display of form. But after being ill, he was not able to perform, and withdrew from the race.The signs were not good, only just over a month before the Grande Partenza, but they have not improved much since. He returned to competition at the Tour of the Alps and on the first mountain stage he was 30th across the finish line, losing over a minute to the leading group of Giulio Pellizzari.
Shock to the body at the Tour of the Alps “Yesterday I made my first major effort in a long time. It was a shock to my body, but I needed it,” Gee said in words to CyclingPro.net. “The road to the Giro is still going well. We’ll see how I feel at the end of this week. There are still three days of racing ahead.”
The 28-year old shows no signs of major stress however the truth is that on the bike he is still significantly behind the level of his rivals. Whilst it is not mandatory to have one’s best form at this point in time, the Giro starts within two weeks and there’s only so much improvement that can be done before the race arrives to its key stages.
The Austria-Italian race provides plenty stages with tough climbs to test the legs and work on the climbing form, something which Gee – much like Tom Pidcock, only with a different goal – is hoping to use. “I hope to do better. I have to keep giving my all and try to improve as much as possible.”
The Ottawa native in the meantime leads Lidl-Trek throughout the rest of the Tour of the Alps and, if all goes right, will share the co-leadership with Jonathan Milan at the Giro d’Italia. “I hope things are different at the Giro. I can’t do anything about it right now. In any case, I’m relaxed; there’s a great atmosphere in the team.”