Still in black, but soon in colorful Lidl-Trek jersey: Juan Ayuso praises new environment

Surely one of the most talked about transfers this winter is Juan Ayuso's move to Lidl-Trek. The Spaniard broke his contract at UAE Emirates-XRG to become the new grand tour leader at ambitious Lidl-Trek, but before he could talk about his new adventure, he had to make amends at the team's media day.

In Denia, Ayuso was allowed to take the lead as the new leader. 'But. Before we can talk about the good times to come at Lidl-Trek, there is a prepared statement that I have to read,' the Spanish rider said somewhat monotonously.

'I want to thank the entire structure at UAE-Team Emirates. During my time with the team I have grown as a rider and I have to revise my words of last September (Ayuso called the team a dictatorship, ed.) because at that time I was under pressure and nervous. Those words do not reflect my feelings and I wish them the best for the future.'

What's it like at Lidl-Trek, then?
'Much better!" (laughter)

'It took a while, but I am happy to be here and I feel very welcome,' indicated Ayuso, who was still walking around the team's hotel in mid-December in a black neutral suit. 'It's also only my first real moment with the team. I have also been to the team days in Germany, but here it is all quite intense. I've already had a lot of meetings and only on day four I was able to really train for the first time.'

There were quite a few teams pulling for the rider. 'It is logical that the link with Movistar is often made, given my nationality. But just about every team made a phone call. The contact with Lidl-Trek went very well from the first moment and I think we are at the same point: me as a rider, them as a team. We have already proven ourselves, but we have to prove it at the highest level.'

With Aritz Arberas Pampin, Ayuso has a Spanish-speaking coach on his new team, with whom cooperation is going well. In addition, he has already completed the necessary rides with sports manager Steven de Jongh, who, like himself, lives in Andorra and in the past coached Alberto Contador as a tour rider.

'Steven is also my team leader and I notice that we had the same ideas about 2026. There is very open communication in the team and the support is of a level I haven't experienced before. With every question I have, they go to work.'

Ayuso, who signed through 2030, will begin the year with an altitude training camp on the Teide before starting the season at the Volta ao Algarve. He will then compete in Paris-Nice and Itzulia Basque Coutry, before starting his preparation for the Tour de France via the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. As a final test, he rides the Dauphiné.

In the Tour de France, he will share the leadership with Mads Pedersen and have Mattias Skjelmose and Giulio Ciccone, among others, by his side. 'Lidl is very keen to score in the GC at the Tour, but I am happy that we are riding with Mads. He is the natural leader of the team and I look forward to learning from him.'

'Whether I can win the Tour? You're not going to hear me say it's unrealistic, but we have to be aware of where we are. It's a long-term project that we entered into and I think there is still a gap between Tadej Pogacar and me in 2026. Personally, I'm chasing the best result, but we still have goals: the green jersey with Mads, for example.'

What success looks like in 2026 for Ayuso, he finds difficult to define. 'So far I have been able to take a step every year, and that is the ambition for next season as well, or even two steps. And I want to give the team victories, both for myself and with teammates. In doing so, I just want to enjoy the environment where I am now and where I feel very welcome.'

Those steps, according to Ayuso, must come in different ways. 'I'm still only 23 years old and there should definitely still be room for improvement. On the other hand, I can still benefit from the investments Lidl is making and the help they can offer me in the coming years. The drive is all there, I've already noticed that.'