Juan Ayuso's end-of-2026 schedule confirmed - Lidl-Trek rider maps out rest season after opting out of Vuelta a Espana
Cycling
Juan Ayuso already has the path mapped out for the final stretch of his season. The 23-year-old rider from Javea will not race the Vuelta a Espana 2026 and will stick to the program he planned at the start of the year, with his return to competition set for September, as confirmed by AS.
The Canadian Classics will be his first target after a Tour de France in which he finished seventh, a result the rider himself views as part of his learning process.
Ayuso’s relationship with La Vuelta is special. It was at the Spanish Grand Tour where he truly broke through among the sport’s leading names, taking third in 2022 when he was barely 19 years old. A year later he again finished among the best, this time fourth, in an edition dominated by the then Jumbo-Visma trio of Sepp Kuss, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic.
He did not participate in 2024 and in 2025 he returned to race his final event with UAE Team Emirates. He did so in a different role to his previous appearances and ended the race with two stage victories. This year, however, his calendar did not include a return to the Spanish race and there will be no last-minute changes unless something unexpected occurs.
Ayuso’s big goal in 2026 was the Tour de France, where he made his first appearance with Lidl-Trek as part of a long-term project that ties him to the team until 2030.
His season had already been shaped by several setbacks. The Spaniard crashed at Paris-Nice while wearing the yellow jersey and later a virus forced him to abandon the Itzulia. Even so, he arrived at the Grande Boucle capable of fighting for the top places and for much of the race he was among the leading contenders.
Juan Ayuso, Lidl-Trek star in 2026.
Return at the Canadian Classics
He ultimately finished seventh. The result was not what had been expected initially, but Ayuso preferred to emphasize the learning gained over three weeks of racing.
Ayuso will not race again until September. His comeback is planned for the Canadian Classics, with the GP de Quebec on 11.09.2026 and the GP de Montreal on 13.09.2026 as the first appointments of the second part of his season.
The intention is for the Spaniard to extend his stay in Canada for much of the month. The reason is obvious: the World Championships will also be held there, one of the marquee events on his schedule for the close of 2026.
Ayuso will also be one of the reference points for the Spanish national team led by Alejandro Valverde both at the Worlds and later at the European Championships. His versatility and ability to handle demanding routes make him a key piece for the national squad.
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Ayuso's plans after World Championships
After the Worlds, Ayuso’s calendar will continue in October with the aforementioned European Championships in Slovenia, scheduled for the first week of the month. The final major goal will arrive a few days later with Il Lombardia, on 10.10.2026.
The Italian Classic will also carry special meaning for the Spaniard. Despite his trajectory and several seasons already at the highest level, Lombardia will be his first Monument since turning professional.
The calendar thus sketches out a particularly demanding end to the season for Ayuso. Canada will mark his return to competition, while the Worlds and Europeans will allow him to defend Spain’s colors before closing the year at one of the most prestigious one-day races on the calendar.
At just 23 and under contract through 2030, the Spaniard faces these final months without needing to rush a process that Lidl-Trek wants to build for the long term. The Tour left him with the experience and lessons needed to keep growing. Now he has a new block of goals ahead before starting to prepare for 2027, when he will again look to take a step up in the Grand Tours.
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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