The next "Pidcock" signs for Lidl-Trek

He is only 17 years old and he was one of the most sought after riders by the main World Tour teams. His talent and projection were already promising but the confirmation came during the last Super World Championships in Glasgow, where young Danish Albert Withen Philipsen was proclaimed World Champion in XCO and Road in the junior category. Finally it was the American team Lidl-Trek who managed to attract him to their ranks.

The young prodigy Albert Withen Philipsen signs for Lidl-Trek

Many compare him to the British Tom Pidcock and he was one of the signings in which the big teams of the peloton were interested, but despite his youth Philipsen was clear about his intention not to give up mountain biking or cyclo-cross, something that seems to have been decisive to opt for Lidl-Trek. This is what the rider himself explained after announcing that he will be part of the American team from 2025 and will do so for at least 4 seasons:

“For me Lidl-Trek was just the best match. My most important criteria when I had to choose my upcoming team, was to find the one that could best help me develop as a rider.”

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“With my multi-discipline approach it was also important for me to find a team that not only had the best setup on the road, but also on the MTB and cyclocross, and I really feel that Lidl-Trek does that.”

“In the next few years my plan is to continue to mix the different disciplines, but primarily focus on the road. I want to keep focusing on the process, and work on some of my weak points."

Philipsen will be at the Lidl-Trek winter concentrations and from January 1st he will have the support of Trek for the cyclocross and MTB season, but on the road, during 2024, he will continue competing for the Tscherning Cycling Academy.

Only time will tell if this signing is a new breath of fresh air for the multidiscipline in the elite category or if the road will absorb a new MTB and CX talent as we analyzed in this recent article.