"Now we have two strong leaders" - Lidl-Trek's podium ambitions stand firm as Verona has confidence in Ayuso and Skjelmose
CyclingWednesday, 15 July 2026 at 14:30
Carlos Verona finished stage 10 of the Tour de France with the feeling he had come through a true war of attrition. The pace from kilometer zero turned the day into one of the toughest of the opening half of the race, but Lidl-Trek emerged stronger thanks to Juan Ayuso’s fine ride, as he keeps edging closer to his big general classification targets.
“Honestly, it was a brutal day, infernal pace from the start,” the Spanish rider said at the finish. On a course defined by tension and relentless attacks, the American squad again showed it has a clear race plan: protect Ayuso and keep intact their chances of fighting for the podium in Paris.
Verona stressed that every second counts in the GC battle. “You never know how it will all end, but we’re going for the white jersey and the podium, and it’s important to move closer to those goals.” The Spaniard believes the result is a key morale boost at a pivotal moment in the race.
“It’s good, it’s a shot of confidence for Juan that will do us a world of good with Paris in mind,” he said. The rider from Alicante remains solid against the top climbers in the bunch and keeps alive his ambitions of finishing on the overall podium and taking the best young rider’s jersey.
However, there is no euphoria within Lidl-Trek. Verona reminded everyone there is still a lot of Tour left and the toughest part of the race is yet to come. “There’s still the whole Tour to go. The last week is brutal and we’ve already seen that the stages from the weekend onwards are very hard,” he warned.
Not getting carried away
Therefore, the team’s strategy is built on patience. “We have to wait and, when the moment comes, attack. But for now we need to stay on the defensive,” said the Madrid native, aware that the decisive terrain is still to come and that energy management will be crucial in the coming days.
One factor that brings extra calm to the team is the presence of Mattias Skjelmose. The Dane, initially slated to share leadership, has taken on a key role in support of Ayuso and has become a premium ally in the mountains.
“What we were missing was having two leaders, two strong riders. Skjelmose has come to the Tour with a very clear idea of helping Juan,” Verona explained.
With Ayuso established among the best in the general classification and a unit that has found the balance between ambition and sacrifice, Lidl-Trek heads into the second half of the Tour with optimism, but also with the certainty that the most decisive stages have yet to be written.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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