Ayuso returns to fight for Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes GC on the road to the Tour de France

Juan Ayuso has had a difficult start at his new team, Lidl-Trek, so far. The Spaniard got off to a good start, but crashed in Paris-Nice and then had to abandon the Tour of the Basque Country early as well. At the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the GC rider returns to racing after two months away. He looks ahead to the Tour de France build-up race on the organiser’s website.

Ayuso switched from UAE to Lidl-Trek this winter, but things have not gone smoothly so far. In the Volta ao Algarve, the young Spaniard made an impression by beating riders such as Paul Seixas, João Almeida and Oscar Onley, but after that the spring became difficult. In Paris-Nice, the Lidl-Trek leader was in the yellow jersey, but crashed heavily.

On his return in the Tour of the Basque Country, things went wrong again. He suffered from stomach problems and once more did not make it to the finish. Now, two months later, the 23-year-old climber is finally returning to action. “I am looking forward to finally pinning on a race number again. My focus has completely shifted to July, and the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is an important preparation race for that big goal.”

Ayuso himself also realises that his first season in Lidl-Trek colours has been a mixed one. “I have achieved some good results, but then ran into a few problems. These two months have given me the chance to really reset. I am looking forward to getting going again.” With competition from the likes of Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas, it will not be an easy build-up.

“There is strong competition, so it will certainly be interesting for the spectators. I hope I can play a role in the top of the classification,” he looks ahead. But the focus remains on preparing for the Tour. The team time trial is therefore an important target for the French stage race. “It is important that we still have a chance to work on our team time trial ahead of the start in Barcelona. I think we can also compete for the stage win as a team,” he says ambitiously.

The Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes begins on Sunday 7 June with a tough stage, so Ayuso and co will need to be switched on from the outset. The well-known team time trial, which many teams see as a dress rehearsal for the Tour start, takes place on Tuesday 9 June.