Juan Ayuso already back training after Paris-Nice crash as comeback race comes into focus

Juan Ayuso is already back on the bike following the crash that forced him to abandon Paris-Nice earlier this month, with the Spanish rider expected to resume racing in the coming weeks.

The Lidl-Trek rider went down during stage four of the French stage race and was forced to withdraw from the event, ending what had been shaping up as a promising challenge for the overall classification. Medical examinations afterwards ruled out any fractures, allowing Ayuso to return to training just days after the incident.

According to reports from Diario AS, the 23-year-old has already resumed riding and is now working towards a return to competition at Itzulia Basque Country, which begins on the 6th of April.

Ayuso had arrived at Paris-Nice as one of the riders capable of playing a significant role in the general classification battle. The race was eventually dominated by Jonas Vingegaard, but the Spanish rider’s challenge ended prematurely when he crashed during the decisive crosswinds stage.

Before the accident, Ayuso had already contributed to a strong performance from Lidl-Trek in the team time trial on stage three, where the team finished second.

The crash interrupted what had otherwise been an impressive start to the 2026 campaign.

Earlier in the season Ayuso delivered one of the standout performances of the opening weeks by winning the overall classification at the Volta ao Algarve. The Spaniard also claimed victory on the decisive summit finish at Malhao and showed impressive consistency throughout the race in both the mountains and the individual time trial.

Despite the setback in France, Ayuso’s broader programme for the season remains unchanged. His spring schedule is expected to include Itzulia Basque Country, followed by the Ardennes Classics, with both La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege on his calendar.

The long-term objective of his campaign remains the Tour de France, where Ayuso is expected to play a major role for Lidl-Trek as he continues to establish himself among the peloton’s leading general classification contenders.