Only 18 years old, but Lidl-Trek strikes gold with mega-talent Albert Philipsen (making his WorldTour debut on Tuesday)

From the junior ranks to the WorldTour — most riders spend a few years in the U23 category before making the leap, but not Albert Philipsen. At just 18 years old, he will make his WorldTour debut with Lidl-Trek on Tuesday. The American team is sending a clear signal: they have full confidence in the Danish super talent. IDLProCycling.com attended a press event with Philipsen, where he shared insights into his upcoming year.

Philipsen is in Australia, ready to take the first steps of his professional career. "I’m really excited to get started," he said about the Tour Down Under. "The winter wasn’t particularly long, but it felt like it with all the preparation. I’m ready and curious to see what will happen." He approaches his first race with an open mind. "It’s hard to set goals for this first race because everything is still so new. The biggest goal is to gain experience and start the season. I don’t have specific results in mind since I don’t know what racing at the WorldTour level will feel like. It’s a big step up from the juniors."

After signing his contract with Lidl-Trek, it quickly became clear that his debut would come sooner rather than later. "I got word early on that I’d be racing the Tour Down Under. It’s a good race to start with. Training here has also been great, so it’s a double benefit." The rest of his season remains somewhat undefined. "It’s still very open. After Down Under, I’ll switch to the mountain bike for a bit before returning to road racing."

Philipsen already got a taste of wearing the Lidl-Trek jersey in the Villawood Men’s Classic, an Australian criterium. During the race, he attacked multiple times with a bold approach. "I just wanted to have fun. It was a nice race to start with because there was no pressure. The focus was on enjoying myself and getting the body moving again. I attacked a few times to see how my system responded and to test everything out."

Read more below the photo!

At age 16, Philipsen became junior world champion: A record!

Lidl-Trek's Danish prodigy: "I can learn a lot from Mads"

Philipsen admits it’s been an adjustment suddenly racing alongside riders he’s only ever seen on TV. "It’s crazy to jump straight from juniors to the WorldTour and then suddenly race against all these guys you’ve watched on TV and looked up to. There aren’t specific riders I had in mind, but when you’re in a criterium and someone who’s ridden the Tour de France is next to you, it’s pretty special."

At just 18, the former junior world champion will split his time between Lidl-Trek’s development and WorldTour teams. "I’ll race some events with the development team, but most of my races will be with the WorldTour team. With the WorldTour team, it’s all about gaining experience, but in the development team, I need to focus on racing finales and winning to get that feeling again."

With Mads Pedersen and Mattias Skjelmose already on the roster, Lidl-Trek had two Danes in its ranks before adding Philipsen and Søren Kragh Andersen, bringing the total to four. "That was definitely one of the team’s positive aspects," the youngster explained. "It’s really nice to have Danish riders on the team, and I can learn a lot from them. They’re different types of riders as well. Mads can teach me about classics and leadership, and he’s a great mentor. Skjelmose can tell me how to manage stage races and how to prepare."

Philipsen is seen as a shining hope for Danish cycling and a true super talent. He became the youngest junior world champion ever in Glasgow and was leading in Zurich a year later before crashing out. His talent is undeniable, but can he meet the high expectations? "I hope so, but it’s hard to say at this point," he said humbly. "You can be great as a junior, but the WorldTour is a completely different game. We’ll see how it goes, but I think I have a lot of room to grow."

Read more below the photo!

Pre-race praise turned disappointment: Philipsen crashed hard in the finale of the World Championships in Zurich.

Philipsen, the all-rounder: "Want to see what I'm good at and what I'm bad at"

Skipping the U23 category meant Philipsen had extra work to do over the winter. "I started training more to prepare myself. The races are longer, of course, and that’s a big change." The dynamics of racing at the highest level will also differ. "Teams collaborate more. As a junior, you race as a team, but it’s more open. At this level, there’s a clearer plan, which changes the race dynamics but also increases the speed."

It’s a big step, but Philipsen feels ready. He doesn’t believe his age will be a barrier. "Cycling is getting younger and younger," he explained. "Of course, I won’t be as strong at this level as older riders with more experience, but I have plenty of time. I hope for a long career where I can slowly keep growing."

So, what kind of rider will he become? "I don’t know yet what kind of rider I want to be in the future. I want to try new things this year and see what I'm good at and what I'm bad at," he said. As a standout talent in road, cyclo-cross, and mountain biking, comparisons to stars like Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock are inevitable. "I don’t like comparing myself to other riders. I just want to be Albert Philipsen," he concluded.

Want to know when and where the most exciting races of 2025 will take place? Check out our updated 2025 cycling calendars for the men's and women's peloton!

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