![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2212209610-scaled-1600x0-c-default.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n Dependable Belgian domestique to continue key support role through 2027\n <\/p>\n
Lidl-Trek is pleased to announce that Belgian rider Otto Vergaerde has signed a two-year contract extension that will see him remain with the Team through 2027.<\/p>\n
Since joining Lidl-Trek in 2022, Vergaerde has been a reliable presence in the squad, bringing his Belgian Classics expertise to the fore in support of the Team\u2019s ambitions. Having grown up on the cobbles, he knows the Spring Classics inside out, often leading the bunch in pursuit of breakaways or piloting leaders into key sections. Over the last two seasons, Vergaerde has successfully transitioned from the cobbles to the climbs, using his positioning and descending skills to support Mattias Skjelmose in stage races and hilly classics.<\/p>\n
For the Team and me personally, we\u2019re motivated to be on the podium of a Grand Tour. This is something we haven\u2019t done since I\u2019ve been in the Team. It\u2019s an ambitious goal but for sure doable with the riders we have.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSince I joined the Team we\u2019ve made a lot of great memories,\u201d said Otto Vergaerde. \u201cJuanpe in the pink jersey and Ciccone winning a stage at my first Giro\u2014helping these guys throughout the Giro was really nice and felt like a step up in my career. In 2024, Mads beat Van der Poel in Gent-Wevelgem and I\u2019m proud of my little part in this. I also enjoyed doing the races with Skjelmose last year and this year, racing for GC goals, which started really well with his fifth place and the White Jersey at the Vuelta. Fighting for something over three weeks and really achieving it was amazing. This gives me motivation for my goals next year. This year, his win in Amstel Gold Race was incredible to be a part of. Winning such a Classic like Amstel and seeing Skjelly on the highest step next to Tadej and Remco was an amazing feeling.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the nicest things during my time here has been seeing the Team develop and improve its professional side. More training camps, more altitude camps\u2014beyond the training improvements, these periods really help you bond with your teammates. When you have that deep friendship, you can achieve more for each other in the races.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the future, I\u2019ll again be racing more with Skjelly in the climbing and GC races. I feel appreciated by the Team for the work I do. Especially now, I feel like Skjelly really values my role, and I think in the past he missed this a bit. For the Team and me personally, we\u2019re motivated to be on the podium of a Grand Tour. This is something we haven\u2019t done since I\u2019ve been in the Team. It\u2019s an ambitious goal but for sure doable with the riders we have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOtto is the kind of rider every successful team needs,\u201d said Luca Guercilena, Lidl-Trek General Manager. \u201cHe is hardworking, loyal, and always puts the Team\u2019s objectives above his own. That often means long hours at the front of the peloton, even before the television coverage begins, but his contribution is invaluable. Otto is also a reliable wheel in the bunch and someone our leaders, especially Mattias, trust completely. It\u2019s clear he has raised his level since stepping into this important role, and we are very pleased to continue with him for another two years. I\u2019m confident that together we can target even bigger goals.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dependable Belgian domestique to continue key support role through 2027 Lidl-Trek is pleased to announce that Belgian rider…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":75921,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[4985,101,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-75920","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-cycling","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75920"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75920\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}