CONFIRMED: Juan Ayuso and Mads Pedersen lead Lidl-Trek at Tour de France

The Tour de France begins to gain more and more shape, and from Dénia come the news that has been expected since Juan Ayuso's transfer to Lidl-Trek. The Spaniard will make his debut at the Tour de France as the sole leader for the overall classification - and the team's sprinter has also already been selected.

After his departure from UAE Team Emirates - XRG, the 23-year old showed himself quite happy with his new environment at Lidl-Trek. Whilst the news didn't hit teammate Mattias Skjelmose particularly well at first, the American team is certain to be able to combine the schedules of both riders quite and with different Grand Tours in the calendar of both climbers.

The Spaniard had a smile on his face at the American team's media day, and in a room with CyclingUpToDate and several others news outlets, quickly confirmed his early outline for the 2026 season in terms of calendar.

Ayuso will begin his season at the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal on the 19th of February, this after an altitude camp at Monte Teide, Tenerife. He will focus on stage-races throughout the spring, racing Paris-Nice and Itzulia Basque Country. With Skjelmose certain to aim for the Giro, it is very likely that the Dane will alternatively race Tirreno-Adriatico and Volta a Catalunya.

Ayuso will then race the Ardennes classics, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège where he will most likely go head-to-head against Tadej Pogacar - potentially for the first time this upcoming season. He will then take on the traditional preparation towards the Tour, certainly featuring an altitude training camp in May and then the Tour Auverge - Rhône Alpes (the new name for the Criterium du Dauphiné.

At the Tour he will be the team's sole overall classification contender and will join Mads Pedersen, as said by himself. This finally confirms that the Dane will be racing the Grand Boucle after a year of absence and Jonathan Milan - winner of the green jersey in the previous edition - is likely heading to the Giro d'Italia.