![\"Aleix](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Lidl-trek-overtake.jpg\")
Aleix Espargaro overtaking motorist on a descent in Spain\u00a0<\/p>\nA video of MotoGP star Aleix Espargar\u00f3 \u2013 who spent last summer moonlighting as a pro cyclist for Lidl-Trek \u2013 overtaking motorists on a descent in Spain during a training ride has attracted controversy on social media, prompting Lidl-Trek to \u201cspeak directly\u201d to their ambassador about his behaviour on the road.<\/p>\n
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 \u00c0ngels, a popular climb near the cycling hub of Girona.<\/p>\n
\u201cA cyclist rips off my stickers!\u201d the account posted alongside the video.<\/p>\n
The rider in question was soon identified in the comments as Espargar\u00f3, the MotoGP racer who joined Lidl-Trek as an ambassador at the start of 2025.<\/p>\n
Aleix Espargaro overtaking motorist on a descent in Spain\u00a0<\/p>\n
After spending a few months training with the team and being coached by the squad\u2019s 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\u2019s development squad in the summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n While he initially aimed to combine his roles at Lidl-Trek and as a test racer for Honda, in November Espargar\u00f3 announced that his brief stint as a pro cyclist was over, after Honda urged him to focus on MotoGP for 2026.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, Espargar\u00f3 continues to train on his bike with Lidl-Trek \u2013 hence the very pro look he was sporting when he was filmed on Els \u00c0ngels on Sunday.<\/p>\n The clip itself has divided opinion, with some criticising Espargar\u00f3\u2019s actions, one Instagram user describing the Catalan racer as a \u201cclown\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThen they ask for a metre and a half,\u201d another wrote, referring to the 1.5m safe passing distance recommended in most countries to motorists when overtaking cyclists.<\/p>\n Others, however, weren\u2019t as critical of Espargar\u00f3\u2019s overtaking skills.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, the cyclist should not go like this, totally agree \u2013 but if he was a motorcyclist or a car driver you would say he is a good driver and applaud him, why the hypocrisy?\u201d asked Manuel.<\/p>\n \u201cI say it because in many motorcycle and car videos I see such comments, but when it comes to cyclists the phrases change.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the video has attracted the attention of Lidl-Trek, who have issued a statement distancing themselves from the descending technique of their ambassador.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are aware of the images circulating this week on social media and we want to be very clear: the behaviour shown by Aleix Espargar\u00f3 does not reflect the values or standards that govern us as a team,\u201d the WorldTour squad said in a statement provided to El Pa\u00eds<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe take this matter very seriously and are in the process of speaking directly with the rider.\u201d<\/p>\n Espargar\u00f3 is yet to publicly address the issue, despite sharing an Instagram post on Monday of him training with other Lidl-Trek riders in Andorra.<\/p>\n > \u201cA mistake has consequences, and I\u2019m paying for them\u201d: Pro cyclist \u201ckicked off team\u201d and pauses cycling career over dangerous bunny-hopping video<\/a><\/p>\n The MotoGP racer\u2019s vital video comes five months after Equipo Kern Pharma rider Kiko Galv\u00e1n was disciplined, and later sacked, by the Spanish team after social media footage emerged showing him bunny-hopping over a raised lane barrier<\/a>, jumping into the oncoming lane, during a training ride, also in Catalonia.<\/p>\n Kern Pharma were quick to condemn Galv\u00e1n\u2019s behaviour, saying in an Instagram comment: \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Aleix](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Lidl-Trek-December-Denia-Espargaro-RB-6-scaled-1600x800-c-center-1024x512.jpg\")
Aleix Espargar\u00f3 (Lidl-Trek)<\/p>\n![\"Kiko](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/screenshot-2025-10-03-150850-1024x605.png\")
Kiko Galvan bunnyhop<\/p>\n