"It doesn't have to be crazy hard": Lidl-Trek DS pleased by the 2026 Giro d'Italia route design

In 2026, Juan Ayuso will make his debut with Lidl-Trek. In his new team, the Spaniard will be looking for the spotlight he has not been able to enjoy much in the shadow of UAE Team Emirates - XRG's other stars. He is likely to be present at the Tour de France whilst Mattias Skjelmose is heading to the Giro d'Italia; whilst Jonathan Milan and Mads Pedersen's schedules have not yet been outlined. However, the team can look forwards to the Corsa Rosa after seeing its route reveal.

Right now, the main topic of conversation in cycling is the unveiled route of the 2026 Giro d'Italia. Lidl-Trek itself has spoken out about it. Speaking to Feltet, Kim Andersen, the team's sporting director, explains the feelings that the 21 stages unveiled have generated in the squad.

"It's not extremely hard, but it's still a tough course. I think that's the direction it should go. It doesn't have to be crazy hard. But there are enough stages for the GC, about seven. Four pure sprints, and then there are other stages where the sprinters can survive," he begins by pointing out that a rider with the qualities of Mads Pedersen could strive in Italy.

With Milan in the team, winner of the green jersey at the Tour de France last year, it is a good sign for the American team that the mountain stages are not overly brutal and if the Italian sprinter is to head to the race, there won't be major worries of a withdrawal. Fighting for the maglia ciclamino, which he won back in 2024, is also fully possible.

Further on, Andersen already explains how Lidl-Trek can take advantage of this course, and if they have already decided whether Juan Ayuso or Mattias Skjelmose will go to the race to fight for the overall classification.

The big selling point of the 2026 Giro d'Italia will be undeniably it's seventh stage with a summit finish on Blockhaus. The GC could be already shaken up with the marathon stage placed in the middle of first week.

"For example, the Blockhaus stage - what was it? 230? 240 kilometers (246 kilometers, ed. The longest Giro stage since 2015)? It's quite long. Stage 19 is not for toddlers either and stage 20 is also (hard). They are not monster stages, but they are good."

The climb in the Apennines is the first summit finish of the race and although the mountain won't be climbed via its longest side, it is very steep and comes at the end of an unusually long stage - something rarely seen at the Tour de France and Vuelta a España nowadays. It is going to be the first stage to create serious differences and split the riders' ambitions according to their climbing ability in the race.

"Stages 14 and 7 also have tough finishes. On stage 4 you have a good mountain, and then you have to go down to the finish. There can be many things there, a breakaway... On stage 2 there is a mountain (a 3-kilometer ascent close to the finish, ed.). Can the sprint teams get over it? Stage 9 ends uphill. Stage 8 is a puncheur stage. I think there are many exciting stages. There will be opportunities for many," Andersen notes.

The parcours, especially the 40-kilometer time trial, certainly fit the agenda of Juan Ayuso who belongs among the best chrono specialists among GC riders. But while it's where he can certainly gain an advantage over his rivals, it will be in the mountains where the race will be decided. But do they even consider his participation at Lidl-Trek?

"We haven't worked out our program yet. It depends a bit on how we set up the riders. We'll do that when we meet next week". Back in July, CyclingUpToDate could understand that Skjelmose had been promised full leadership this year at the Corsa Rosa. This may come up as a point of contention if it is not the case.

"We just sat in an online meeting for an hour and a half and started on it. Then we'll continue next week," the Dane said. For now, it seems that Mads Pedersen could be Lidl-Trek's main leader at Corsa Rosa.