![]() Vincenzo Nibali was the latest in a long line of high-profile veterans signed by the American outfit. ![]() The Australian suffered a horrific crash in stage 9 both in 2017 and in 2018, the latter on the same day that John Degenkolb, tears running down his cheeks, culminated a sensational comeback with a poignant win in Roubaix Velodrome. Trek Bikes, used to having household names such as Armstrong, Cancellara, the Schleck Bros., Voigt, Ivan Basso and Contador on its roster, signed Richie Porte, who finished eleventh in the 2019 Tour de France after two massive disappointments. Already in the twilight of his career, the Spaniard realised that at age 34 he was no longer good enough to fight for the yellow jersey (ninth, 8′49″ back), but he went out with a bang, claiming the Angliru stage in the Vuelta. He finally claimed a solo win in Le Puy-en-Velay in 2017, halfway between the Alps and the Pyrenees, in the same season that the team run by Luca Guercilena recruited Alberto Contador. In 2016, the Dutchman, seventh in 2015 in his first year with Trek, was still second in the general classification the day after the stage 18 time trial in Megève, but he faltered in the last two mountain stages and ended up in eleventh place overall. The team signed Bauke Mollema to make up for its lack of results. One of the big assets of the American squad was Jens Voigt, who completed his final Tour at age 43 amid an outpouring of affection. The next day, Cancellara, the favourite to win the cobblestone stage, had to settle for fifth place. In 2014, Andy Schleck's hopes were dashed for good as he dropped out in the fourth stage with his knee so badly injured that he had to bring his career to a premature end at age 29. While the two Luxembourgers went into decline after standing on the podium of the 2011 Tour, the Swiss rider remained a bankable asset, taking the inaugural time trial for the fifth time in 2012 (after 2004, 2007, 20) and wearing the yellow jersey throughout the opening week. ![]() Both of them rode Trek bicycles but failed to achieve the desired results, apart from winning the team classification in 20 and the flashes of brilliance of Fabian Cancellara and the Schleck brothers. Lidl–Trek, sponsored by the Segafredo coffee brand until a few weeks ago, is the latest incarnation of the RadioShack and Leopard teams, created in 20, respectively. ![]()
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