Czech champion looks to the future with big ambitions alongside Lidl-Trek

Lidl-Trek is excited to announce that 23-year-old Czech champion Mathias Vacek has signed a new long-term contract, committing him to the team through the end of 2029.

Since joining Lidl-Trek in 2023, Vacek has shown impressive growth and versatility. His breakout season came in 2024, when he played a key support role in the Classics alongside Mads Pedersen and Jasper Stuyven, before delivering a standout climbing performance at the Tour de Hongrie in support of overall winner Thibau Nys.

Later that year, Vacek made an impressive Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España, finishing second in the opening time trial — just two seconds off victory — and wearing the best young rider jersey for three days.

The momentum continued in 2025. In his second Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia, he again wore the white jersey and proved himself as a versatile lead-out man, helping Pedersen secure multiple stage wins.

After claiming both the Czech national road race and time trial titles in June, Vacek earned his first win for Lidl-Trek outside national championships at the Tour de Wallonie, where he also finished runner-up overall.

I’m feeling really confident to be here in this team, which is also developing every year and doing everything possible for the riders to be the number one in the world. For this I’m really grateful.

Vacek played an instrumental role in Pedersen’s Giro success

“It’s now my third year in the Team and I’m super happy with how I’m developing,” said Mathias Vacek. “If I look back now at how I started and what level I was back then, and where I am now, I really couldn’t imagine that I would do such a jump like this and could be now on the top level. An important thing was definitely that I had so much trust in the Team and the Team trusted me, so I really had the support and freedom to take the wheel in my hands and do everything possible to reach the level I am now, and even further.

“I’m really happy that the team saw the potential in me and I can now pay back to the team with results. Step by step I’m getting to where I want to be and for sure even bigger results will come in the future. Of course, everything has to go well and I need to keep my focus and be patient, but I’m feeling really confident to be here in this team, which is also developing every year and doing everything possible for the riders to be the number one in the world. For this I’m really grateful.

“For the next years I definitely have big ambitions, of course, it would be nice to race the Tour de France in the future, maybe even next year. I would love to win a stage at the Tour, I know it’s a big task but I am really motivated and looking forward to working hard to reach my best. I’ve already worn the White Jersey in the Vuelta and the Giro, now it would be nice to wear it at the Tour. I’m confident that the next years will be really good. The classics are some of my favorite races to do and there I want to also be really good. I know I have the power in myself and now I have to still gain experience and learn how to be a big leader and put myself in the big player game. I know that I’m close and know that if I work well and stay focused it will come.”

“Mathias has all the makings of a big champion,” said Luca Guercilena, Lidl-Trek General Manager. “His work ethic, the way he learns from those around him, and also how he treats his teammates and staff speaks volumes about his character. I believe that these qualities, combined with his physical ability, will take him very far. His performances over the last two years especially show that he is on the verge of some big wins. We’re excited to discover his full potential as we continue to work together over the next four years.”