Cyclist Felix Gall has signed a three-year contract through 2029 with Lidl-Trek, joining the WorldTour team alongside Gregor Mühlberger after a breakout season that included podium finishes at both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España.
The multi-year transfer, which had been rumored since the early summer months, was confirmed on Tuesday morning by the German team’s management according to reports from German-language outlets. Gall moves over after spending five seasons within the French setup Decathlon, where a shifting team focus toward younger riders helped pave the way for his departure following the Tour de France.
Grand Tour Success and the Path to Lidl-Trek
Gall established himself among the peloton’s elite climbers during a stellar campaign. Following a breakthrough 2023 season highlighted by a queen-stage victory and eighth place overall at the Tour de France, the 28-year-old climbed to fifth at the French Grand Tour in 2025 and secured second place behind Jonas Vingegaard at the Giro d’Italia in May.
Just days before his official signing announcement, Gall finished third overall at the Vuelta a España in Granada, making him the only rider this season to secure top-five finishes across two different Grand Tours. That consistency convinced Lidl-Trek management to secure the Austrian climber through the end of the decade on a deal running through 2029.
Felix Gall stated via Radsport-News.com that a new chapter in his career was beginning with Lidl-Trek, adding that after wonderful years and the success he had experienced in them, it was now time for the logical next step.
Team CEO Andy Schleck noted that Gall’s progression has been monitored closely since his initial breakthrough by the team’s management. Schleck stated in the team’s official announcement that Felix had shown in 2026 that he belonged among the very best and had established himself as a true podium candidate in the major Grand Tours, adding that they believed there was still much more potential inside him.
Gregor Mühlberger Follows as Trusted Support
Gall will not make the transition alone. His compatriot, Gregor Mühlberger, signed a two-year contract with Lidl-Trek stretching through the end of 2028. Mühlberger, who shares a home base with Gall in Salzburg and joined Decathlon for the 2026 season after stints with Bora-hansgrohe and Movistar, serves as a crucial tactical asset in the high mountains.
Earlier in the summer, Mühlberger also secured overall victory at the Tour of Austria riding for the national team.
Ein kleiner Traum wird wahr.
Gregor Mühlberger, via Radsport-News.com
Schleck praised the 32-year-old’s reliability and willingness to sacrifice personal ambitions for team leadership, noting that Mühlberger belonged to the type of rider who would throw everything on the road for their team leaders without hesitation while pointing to his performance in Austria as proof that he can also deliver results when given the opportunity .
Financial Scale and Team Dynamics in the WorldTour
Backed by the financial strength of the German supermarket chain Lidl, the team operates with one of the largest budgets in the WorldTour. Industry reports place Gall’s salary with his new employer at approximately three million euros annually, placing him well above the WorldTour average while remaining below the top tier occupied by riders like Tadej Pogačar.
At Lidl-Trek, Gall joins a heavily reinforced GC squad that already features Juan Ayuso and Mattias Skjelmose, alongside Mads Pedersen under the overall leadership of management figures including Thomas Rohregger and sports director Bernhard Eisel alongside Grischa Niermann.
While the team has not yet finalized its exact Grand Tour leadership pairings for the upcoming season—awaiting the formal route announcements for the major stage races—Gall indicated that concrete plans regarding his specific race schedule and team captain status will be established.
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