“Del Toro was on another level today... but to be honest, I don’t really care” - Juan Ayuso turns focus to Tour de France after encouraging Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes podium

Juan Ayuso ended the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on the final podium, beaten by Isaac del Toro on the road to Plateau de Solaison but encouraged by Lidl - Trek’s final Tour de France preparation test.

The Spaniard finished third overall after the decisive final stage, where Del Toro attacked 9km from the summit, won the stage and took the general classification for UAE Team Emirates - XRG. Ayuso responded later on the climb, distanced Matteo Jorgenson and moved onto the podium, but could not bring back Del Toro.

Speaking to Cycling Pro Net after the stage, Ayuso chose to focus first on the work done by Lidl - Trek across a brutally hard final day.

“I really tried to give my best because the team did amazing,” he said. “We controlled all day and the work of the guys today was impressive. It was a really hard start, and Julian got dropped, Lenny got dropped, and they all really fought to come back and work for me.”

Lidl - Trek took responsibility through much of the middle phase of the stage, keeping the early break within reach before UAE took over at the foot of Plateau de Solaison. Ayuso said the collective effort stayed with him even after missing out on the stage win. “I’m super proud of how the team rode,” he said. “I think we were the strongest team. We controlled everything with no help from anybody.”

He also highlighted the work of team-mates who were forced deep into the mountains before Ayuso made his own move. “Just to see also Toms and Quinn passing these mountains, which are super tough, and I was already suffering, and these guys were pulling, was really impressive,” he said. “They deserved a win. Quinn got a stage win and I think finishing on the podium here, we can more or less be happy.”

Ayuso had arrived at the race after a build-up he described as more difficult than hoped, but said he felt better as the week went on. “The road here was not super easy,” he said. “The preparation was a bit more difficult than what I would have hoped for, so finishing on the podium and feeling like every day I improved, every day I was getting better, I’m happy.”

Del Toro’s final climb attack decided both the stage and the overall title. Ayuso had tried a similar long-range move on the Grand Colombier the previous day, but this time he was the rider forced into the chase.

“When he went so far away, I was hoping what happened yesterday would happen, but just the other way around,” Ayuso said. “He was on another level today and we have to accept it.”

Mattias Skjelmose then worked for Ayuso in the chase group, helping set up the Spaniard’s move inside the final 5km. “Skelly rode an amazing pull for me and I really tried to use all the force of the team to my advantage,” Ayuso said. “Skelly again did a great job, sacrificing himself for me, and then I went. But then Isaac was on another level. This is sport and it is how it is.”

Asked for his wider read on Del Toro, Paul Seixas and the Tour de France picture, Ayuso refused to dwell on rival form. “To be honest, I don’t really care,” he said. “I just focus on myself, focus with my team-mates to get the best preparation possible.”

Ayuso finished the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes third overall, 1:17 behind Del Toro, with Luke Tuckwell second at 54 seconds and Jorgenson fourth at 1:36. Lidl - Trek also leave with Quinn Simmons’ stage 4 victory and Skjelmose sixth overall, giving the team a strong final block before July.

“The guys rode today in an amazing way,” Ayuso said. “I think it was a really good ride to prepare for the Tour. Again, I’m not focused on my rivals. I’m focused on myself and on trying to help my team-mates also improve. That’s what we’re going to do in these next three weeks before the Tour.”

Ayuso leaves the race with a podium rather than a victory, but with form moving in the right direction and Lidl - Trek’s mountain unit tested hard before the Tour de France.