Lidl-Trek’s Derek Gee-West will not be toeing the line for Stage 5 of the Volta a Catalunya on Friday. The day’s racing is from La Seu d’Urgell to La Molina/Coll de Pal, for a total of 153.1 km. There are several nasty climbs, including a brutal finish. In an Instagram post, the national champion said he hasn’t been feeling well all week, and will instead prioritize rest in order to prepare for bigger goals. One of those goals is the 2026 Giro d’Italia. In 2025, he finished fourth, just missing the podium. It was the second time he raced the Giro–the first was in 2023, which was his breakout race.
Back then he had four second places and was in all kinds of breakaways. He finished 22nd overall, as well as second in the points and mountains competition. From that point on, he leaned out and began to focus on the GC of races. And he delivered. In 2025, he won the overall at the O Gran Camiño, and third overall at the 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné. He also snagged a big win in France. Speaking of France, the same year he did his first Tour. There, he showed that he was one of the big boys, finishing 9th overall.
In 2026, despite a very, very long gap in racing, he returned with his new Lidl-Trek squad after a protracted contract squabble with his former home, the team then known as Israel-Premier Tech. His first race back was the UAE Tour, where he finished an impressive 7th overall. He seems to have struggled as of late, so hopefully the Osgoode, Ont. rider can retool and get ready for the bigger races coming up.
Gee-West is slated to do the Tour of the Alps in April, as part of his Giro prep. It’s a five-day stage race, full of climbing as the name suggests.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…