FROM MOTOGP TO PEDALS: ALEIX ESPARGARÓ TO RACE TOUR OF AUSTRIA WITH LIDL-TREK

Girona, Spain – Former MotoGP full-time rider and current Honda test rider Aleix Espargaró is swapping engines for pedals. The Lidl-Trek team announced that the 35-year-old Spaniard will participate in the Tour of Austria, scheduled from July 9 to 13. This marks Espargaró's professional cycling debut, a year after retiring from motorcycle racing.

Espargaró joined Lidl-Trek last December as an ambassador and has since participated in training camps with the professional squad. After successfully completing trials, he was selected to compete in this multi-stage race with the development team.

"It will be fantastic because the week before the race in Austria, I'll be participating as a wildcard in the Dutch GP. It will be a big challenge, but I have no expectations for my cycling debut. I'll try to learn as much as possible, help my teammates, and most importantly, enjoy the effort," stated Espargaró. He will still be at Assen this weekend, riding Luca Marini's Honda as Marini is injured.

In his MotoGP career, Espargaró secured three victories: in Argentina (2022), and then in Great Britain and Catalonia (2023), all with Aprilia. He accumulated a total of eleven podium finishes.