Tao Geoghegan Hart set for Lidl-Trek move

Sources have confirmed to GCN that former Giro d’Italia winner Tao Geohegan Hart is to move to Lidl-Trek next season.

The British rider has been with Ineos Grenadiers, formerly Team Sky, since turning professional in 2017. He has raced multiple Grand Tours and enjoyed a huge breakthrough in 2020 when he became just the second British rider to win the Giro d’Italia.

The 28-year-old started this campaign strongly with a win in the Tour of the Alps and a string of top-tens, including third overall in Tirreno-Adriatico.

Geoghegan Hart looked on course to challenge for the Giro d’Italia in May but a crash on 11 saw him abandon the race with a series of injuries, including a broken pelvis. With his team at Ineos Grenadiers set to expire at the end of the currency season a number of teams were linked with Geoghegan Hart’s signature but GCN understands that Lidl-Trek have won the race, with a three-year deal agreed. No official statement has been released by any of the parties, and teams cannot officially sign or announce riders before the UCI deadline of August 1.

For Lidl-Trek the move makes huge sense. The squad has been looking for a GC rider for a number of years with the likes of Simon Yates and Geraint Thomas both linked to the team over the years.

The team still has faith in Giulio Ciccone and recent Tour de Suisse winner Mattias Skjelmose but the arrival of Geoghegan Hart would provide a valuable focal point for the squad. The move would also guarantee Geoghegan Hart leadership in any Grand Tour of his choosing once he has recovered from his recent injury. 

Another rider leaving Ineos Grendaries at the end of the season is Pavel Sivakov.