LIDL-TREK

This will be the 13rd Vuelta for a team that has evolved from the original Leopard-Trek of 2011 to the current Lidl-Trek. Along the way, was the fusion with RadioShack and the emergence of the US bicycle company as their main sponsor - a journey full of continuous changes that have seen them achieve significant victories in this competition. One that stands out above the rest is Chris Horner’s incredible 2013 Vuelta, who won the general classification of a three-week race shortly before his 42nd birthday. The extroverted RadioShack-Leopard rider won over the Spanish fans with his amusing answers in Spanish at the end of every day of racing during that edition. His victories in Lobeira and Hazallanas and another by Fabian Cancellara made the team’s loot that much sweeter that year.

The team has a total of 11 La Vuelta stage victories under its belt, among them the one obtained by Alberto Contador at l’Angliru in 2017. The Spanish rider culminated his successful career by climbing the unforgiving Asturian peak all alone. A partial triumph that the US team was unable to repeat in the three last editions of La Vuelta, despite the notable efforts made by Bauke Mollema. The Dutch rider, one of the peloton’s most entertaining riders, won the favour of the public, becoming the race’s Most Aggessive Rider of La Vuelta 18. In 2021, Kenny Elissonde managed to wear the red jersey for one stage.

In 2022, Mad Pedersen obtained three stage victories as well as the race’s green jersey.