Five months after his lawyers submitted a "notice of termination" to Israel-Premier Tech – now NSN Cycling Team – Derek Gee-West has signed a contract with blossoming super-team Lidl-Trek, making the home of Ayuso, Skjelmose, Pedersen and Milan more intriguing than ever.
Jonny Long
This marks the conclusion of perhaps the last remaining loose end of the 2025 season. While Gee-West has been able to enjoy some time off the bike since August, his wedding in particular (hence the slight name change), the past few months have been characterised by legal wrangling as the dispute over his IPT contract rattled on behind closed doors, making his future in cycling appear uncertain, at least in the short term.
Following his previous team's rebrand and attempts to dissociate from recent history, it seemed possible that the Canadian might resume the contract that had been expected to run to 2028 – that or the fulfillment of a rumoured defection to Ineos Grenadiers, which had been eagerly hunting a fledgling GC contender, eventually found in Oscar Onley. Gee-West's signing to Lidl-Trek came a little out of left field, but it's compelling for all sorts of reasons.
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