After a ten-year absence, Gregor Mühlberger is set to return to the Lidl Tour of Austria. The 32-year-old, who finished 15th overall at the Giro d’Italia just one month ago and played a crucial domestique role in helping Felix Gall secure an outstanding second place overall, will line up for the Austrian National Team. Also newly confirmed are Tour de France fifth-place finisher Carlos Rodríguez and Tour de Suisse fourth-place finisher Neilson Powless.
The surprise is complete: Mühlberger, who lives in Salzburg, had been preparing for the Tour de France but was ultimately left out of his French team’s selection. As a result, he decided at short notice to race on home roads instead. “We’re delighted to field such a strong squad for this anniversary edition of the Tour. Gregor is a tremendous asset not only for our national team but also for the race itself,” said Cycling Austria President Harald J. Mayer. “I have very fond memories of the Tour of Austria, even though my previous two appearances were quite some time ago,” said Mühlberger, who is eager to showcase his excellent form in front of his home fans. “The mountain finish on the Großglockner’s Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe should suit me perfectly. We have a strong team, and I’m really looking forward to the race.”
Back in 2014, the then 20-year-old from Lower Austria claimed the prestigious Glockner King title. To repeat that achievement, he would have to win Stage 2 this year. “That would certainly be the goal, but there are plenty of strong climbers on the other teams. It definitely won’t be an easy task,” said Mühlberger, who became the youngest Glockner King in the race’s history. “Gregor is a fantastic addition to the Lidl Tour of Austria and makes our national team even stronger. I still remember his debut in 2014, when he raced in the colours of Team Tirol. His participation is certainly a major highlight for the fans,” added Tour Director Thomas Pupp. Mühlberger replaces Hermann Pernsteiner in the six-rider Austrian National Team.
Strong Spanish Climber Boosts Netcompany INEOS
The starting field for the 75th Lidl Tour of Austria, which gets underway next Wednesday in Graz, is taking impressive shape. Swiss National Champion Jan Christen will lead UAE Team Emirates-XRG alongside teammates Benoît Cosnefroy and Igor Arrieta. Lidl-Trek arrives with Austria’s Patrick Konrad, Grand Tour stage winner Lennard Kämna—who finished sixth overall at last year’s Tour of Austria—2020 Giro d’Italia winner Tao Geoghegan Hart, Bauke Mollema and Andrea Bagioli.
Other general classification contenders include Bob Jungels, Jefferson Alexander Cepeda and last year’s fifth-place finisher Andrew August.
Another major name has now joined the battle for the red-white-red leader’s jersey: Carlos Rodríguez of Netcompany INEOS. Two years ago, the Spaniard won the demanding Tour de Romandie and claimed a stage victory at the Critérium du Dauphiné. However, his standout performance came at the 2023 Tour de France, where he won the stage to Morzine Les Portes du Soleil, beating Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard by five seconds. He went on to finish an outstanding fifth overall, while Felix Gall secured eighth place. Earlier this season, Rodríguez finished second overall at the challenging Tour de la Provence.
Neilson Powless to Lead EF Education-EasyPost
At 29 years of age, Neilson Powless is one of cycling’s most exciting personalities. He finished fourth overall at the 2022 Tour de Suisse, won the Étoile de Bessèges in 2023, and claimed victory at the prestigious Italian one-day race Gran Piemonte in 2024. His most remarkable triumph, however, came at the 2025 edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen. Powless found himself in a four-man breakaway alongside Visma | Lease a Bike stars Wout van Aert, Tiesj Benoot and Matteo Jorgenson. Few expected the American to come out on top, but he stunned the cycling world by outsprinting all three to claim a sensational victory.
