Lidl Trek buys key staff from Primož Roglič's team

Lidl Trek is preparing for a major shake-up of its leadership structure after this year's Tour de France, aiming to elevate its status among the world's top cycling teams. A key figure in this transformation will be Dan Lorang, who joins from Red Bull Bori Hansgrohe. Lorang, previously the director for performance and a specialist in sports science, will head up competitive development and oversee a new Crivit Performance Center. This initiative signals the team's ambition to make significant strides towards competing with the leading cycling outfits. The restructuring also includes the surprising arrival of Grisch Niermann from Visma Lease a Bike. Niermann will assume the role of chief sports director, though his contract with his current team binds him until September 1. Under Lorang's guidance, the new center will focus on crucial areas such as training, nutrition, health, recovery, and data analytics, including artificial intelligence. Further bolstering the team's expertise, former Visma nutrition specialist Martijn Redegeld and mental preparation expert York Peter Klöppel are also joining. Lorang's move is particularly significant, given his past success working with elite triathletes and his reputation as a highly respected figure in athlete performance development within cycling. His transition indicates Lidl Trek's commitment to building a comprehensive support system comparable to those of powerhouse teams like UAE Team Emirates XRG and Visma Lease a Bike. The team's strategic shift is driven by its new ownership's clear objective: to transform Lidl Trek from a strong contender into a dominant force in professional cycling, capable of challenging for victory in the Tour de France.