Will Ayuso face the same leadership debate at Lidl-Trek as at UAE? New team responds with clear words

Skjelmose is only 24 and has already competed in four Grand Tours. He made his debut in the 2022 Giro, rode the Tour for the first time the following year, and appeared in the Vuelta the year after that. The Tour of Spain went extremely well: Skjelmose finished fifth in the overall classification and took home the white jersey.

This year's Tour ended prematurely due to a crash, but Lidl-Trek's approach seemed clear: Skjelmose will be prepared to become the team's leader in the GC. Yet the American-German team signed Ayuso to a contract until 2030. The question then, of course, is: what will the relationship between the two be like?

"As I already told Mattias, it's a natural development on the part of the team," explains team leader Andersen. "I believe in Mattias, and he believes in himself. We are ready to take on the challenge. That means talking to him (Ayuso, ed.) about it. Showing that we are also good, just as he is good."

So it seems that both will be leaders, and perhaps even in the same Grand Tour. "It's very, very difficult when you're all alone (as leader, ed.). So we see it as an advantage that there are two of us. You almost have to start with two leaders in the Tour de France. Just in case one of them drops out."

Andersen has also seen two leaders at Visma | Lease a Bike and UAE, for example. "Almost everyone has two in last place, and then they (Skjelmose and Ayuso, ed.) have to show who is the best. It would be easier if there were only one, but it's too risky."

According to Andersen, one leader at the start is ‘fine if you are seventh or eighth in the team ranking, but: "With the goals coming in, and with the arrival of Lidl, there is no other way out. " With Giulio Ciccone, there could possibly be a third leader, but the Italian has indicated that he will not be competing for the classification.

However, experience is lacking, as Ayuso is still 23 and Skjelmose turns 25 on Friday. Yet, according to Andersen, that is also a strength. "Together with Mattias, Ayuso is one of the few riders who will still be there when the two best (Vingegaard and Pogacar, ed.) are gone in a relatively short time. We mustn't forget that Ayuso is two years younger than Mattias."