Lidl-Trek go all-in at Tour de France with Juan Ayuso podium bid and Mads Pedersen green jersey challenge

Lidl-Trek have confirmed one of the most ambitious and versatile lineups for the 2026 Tour de France, with Juan Ayuso targeting the podium in Paris and Mads Pedersen set to chase stage wins and the green jersey.

Ayuso will lead the team’s general classification challenge after finishing third at the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, while Mattias Skjelmose also starts in a protected role. Pedersen gives Lidl-Trek a second major focus across the three weeks, with the Dane again expected to be dangerous in reduced sprints, punchy finales and the battle for green.

Ayuso arrives at the Tour as Lidl-Trek’s clear yellow jersey leader, with the team openly targeting a high finish in the overall standings. The Spaniard has long been regarded as one of the peloton’s major Grand Tour talents and now heads to Barcelona with a squad built to keep him in contention through the opening week and into the decisive mountain stages.

Skjelmose gives the team another protected rider for the general classification, adding depth to a lineup that is not built around one single objective. Derek Gee-West is expected to play a key mountain role after his strong Giro d’Italia, while Carlos Verona brings experience and climbing support around both GC leaders.

“The main big goals for the team are finishing up high in the general classification with Juan and of course with Mads trying to win the green jersey, plus we would like to win stages,” said sports director Steven de Jongh in Lidl-Trek’s announcement. “Juan is our GC leader and we also have Skjelmose in a protected role.”

Pedersen ensures Lidl-Trek are not relying only on the GC battle. A two-time Tour de France stage winner, the Dane remains one of the race’s most reliable threats on days that are too hard for pure sprinters but still likely to finish from a reduced group.

De Jongh described Pedersen as a rider who “almost doesn’t need an introduction”, pointing to his ability to survive harder sprint stages, race aggressively from breakaways and still compete for the points classification.

Mathias Vacek, Toms Skujins and Quinn Simmons give Lidl-Trek more power around Pedersen and the GC leaders. Vacek can work across rolling terrain or follow attacks, Skujins is expected to help with positioning and protection, while Simmons arrives in form after winning the national title.

The opening team time trial is also a major early target. Lidl-Trek have worked heavily on aerodynamic testing, equipment choices and pacing strategy, with De Jongh saying the team have “high expectations of being competitive.”

With Ayuso and Skjelmose for the overall, Pedersen for stages and green, and a support group packed with horsepower, Lidl-Trek arrive at the Tour with several ways to make their race.