It’s official: Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney is joining Lidl-Trek next year.
The German team has been making waves since the start of the official signing season in August, bringing in some big names in its 2027 men’s roster such as Felix Gall and Igor Arrieta.
But the signing of Niewiadoma-Phinney, who has been nothing short of impressive after finishing on the podium in the some of the big spring Classics, the Tour de France avec Zwift and the World Championships, makes it clear that Lidl-Trek will not settle until it goes bigger, better and wilder.
Aiming for the top
Niewiadoma-Phinney will stay in Lidl-Trek for two years under her contract after spending nearly a decade with Canyon//SRAM.
She is also set to reunite with Riejanne Markus, who was her teammate back then at WM3.
The Pole admitted the decision was not easy, but talks with Lidl-Trek’s management ultimately convinced her.
“I’m really excited about the next two years. I spent a long time with the same team, and the decision to take a step forward and seek a change wasn’t easy until I spoke with Lidl-Trek,” she said in a statement.
“Right away I felt the team had a plan, that they trusted me and believed in my potential.
“I knew that, by joining forces, we could aim for the very top.”
Niewiadoma-Phinney did not shy away from expressing what she hopes for in this new chapter of her career: more improvement, more speed, and more wins.
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Vollering vs Niewiadoma-Phinney rivalry lights up
The Pole has been among the most consistent riders in the women’s peloton in recent years, registering podiums in Classics and even the Grand Tours.
She finished second in the 2026 Tour de France Femmes – and even won one of the most difficult stages in Mount Ventoux – as well as the recent World Championships in Canada.
But one of her greatest achievements so far? Winning the Tour de France Femmes in 2024, just four seconds ahead of rival Demi Vollering.
Vollering has been the star of the show this year following her victories in the Giro d’Italia Women, Tour de France Femmes and the World Championships.
But champions don’t become champions overnight.
She had to fight tooth and nail to retake the lead several times against a slew of rivals who wanted to stand in her way.
The only rival who managed to chase her the most until the end of the line was Niewiadoma-Phinney.
This shows her keen ability to defy the odds with her climbing ability and her aptitude to attack even in the toughest sectors — although Vollering has bested her in some of their one-on-one duels in stage finales.
And with a new project in Lidl-Trek, she’s determined to get close to beating world number one Vollering.
She will have one more chance to get the best of Vollering this Saturday at the European Championships, but not without the Dutch rider fighting to ensure the white and blue jersey stays in her stead.
Riders assemble for explosive Lidl-Trek
Niewiadoma-Phinney may be Lidk-Trek’s latest star signing, she is not the only one.
The team has been securing riders left and right since August as it bids to strengthen the squad come 2027.
Some of its confirmed signings for the men’s team include Gall, who has put an impressive performance this year in the Giro d’Italia and La Vuelta, finishing second and third, respectively.
Joining him from Decathlon CMA CGM is Gregor Mühlberger, his longtime lieutenant.
Jordan Jegat from TotalEnergies and Jordi Meeus from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe will also be joining the super sprint team starting next year.
And in a twist announcement, Lidl-Trek will bring in Igor Arrieta – the feisty Spanish rider who won one of the most exhilarating stages at the 2026 Giro d’Italia in recent memory despite crashing.
Arrieta had been part of the junior ranks before joining UAE Team Emirates XRG in 2024, which means his transfer deals a significant blow with the UAE and team leader Tadej Pogačar.
Lidl-Trek also snatched Juan Ayuso from UAE in 2025 to join its established list of star climbers and sprinters such as Giulio Ciccone, Mattias Skjelmose, Mads Pedersen, and Jonathan Milan.
It’s still early to tell if Lidl-Trek’s ambitions will take flight, but all these transfers tell the cycling world one thing: It is assembling a team that seeks to disrupt the hierarchy, one race at a time.
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