Dario Cataldo is in Denia, Spain, for a team retreat. The Lidl-Trek riders who are not competing were gathered in the warm: we work and train in preparation for the next races. After the serious injury The Abruzzese returned to racing at the end of the season at the beginning of 2023. His condition wasn't the best and he had given himself appointment after the winter, to understand where he was on the road to recovery.
Slow but decisive steps
“I’m happy with the progress we’ve made,” Cataldo says as he drops his bike off at the mechanic’s for a fit check. “I keep improving. I had been optimistic, I thought of a quicker recovery, especially after returning to racing at the end of 2023. Starting from scratch after the winter break was a way, in my mind, to get back to being competitive. However, there are still some problems, I'm not 100 percent.At the Tour Down Under I was better and at the UAE Tour I was even better. It's taking longer but I'll get back to my levels.
«The group is competitive – he continues – and my team is too. I have to prove that I'm fit, because there are very strong riders and it's right that those who are ready should run.There's a lot of competition within the team, but I'm not afraid. I'm happy the team is doing well; I'm at the end of my career and have been focusing more on the good of the group for a while now. I probably won't do the Giro, I would have liked to, but I've done 13, one more won't change my life."
Evolution
Lidl-Trek has changed a lot, but it hasn't lost its essence. Our chat with Cataldo also aimed to understand how this change has been experienced from the inside.
«It wasn't a revolution, but an evolution – explains Cataldo – there were many cornerstones in the team, including staff and riders, and everyone improved. We also got many interesting profiles, even for leadership roles: Milan e geoghegan hart, for example. The thing that hasn't changed is the international ideology of the team, which is important to maintain.We try not to have a single group but to be heterogeneous, so that each part can compensate for the other. There are many different ways to look at cycling and everyone benefits from this aspect.It's something that has always worked and has brought many results.
«The new arrivals – he analyses – have integrated perfectly, almost as if it were a super natural thing. It has been seen on some occasions that riders who left the Ineos team struggled to integrate, Tao (Geoghegan Hart, ed.) on the other hand did notThis is a good sign that shows the team's mentality."
Technology
What does this evolution consist of? But above all, what is the mentality of the Lidl Trek which allows for consistent performance even after many changes?
«Evolution is the word that best describes the team – Cataldo continues – because we always try to keep up with the timesMany teams have been at the top for a long time and then dropped off. At Lidl-Trek the goal is to keep up with the times, studying every technical aspect: from aerodynamics to the bike, through the materials. It's an evolution made with the right steps, which makes the path smooth but still progressive.
Young riders people
Lidl-Trek Future Racing is also entering the growth and planning process for the future, that is, I have to team up of the American team. It was born in 2024 and has already gathered many talents under one roof.
«This too is an example of growth and development – says Cataldo – It takes time to find new talents and you have to take them when they are young.. Markel Irizar he's doing a great job and the team has been working on this aspect for several years. They also have an eye on the junior world and try to give them CHILDREN an address and make them grow as best as possibleThe team gathered everyone for the December retreat, and for the young players, having an experience like this is important. They see the environment and feel part of itIn the future I think we will have races with “mixed” teams where the young people will be made to race with us from the WT team. I don't hide the fact that I would like to be close to them and pass on something.».
