PRESS CONFERENCE: "Saying I can win the Tour de France this year is not realistic" - Juan Ayuso lays out plans for life after UAE
Cycling
Juan Ayuso has begun his new chapter with Lidl-Trek, speaking to the media at the team’s press conference about his move, his ambitions for the Tour de France, leadership within the squad and the lessons learned from recent difficult seasons.
CyclingUpToDate was present as the Spanish GC rider answered questions in an extended back and forth.
How is life at Lidl-Trek so far?
It’s really good. I’m very happy to be here. It’s been a long way for me to arrive here, and the team has been super welcoming. The mentality is something I really feel at home with, and I’m very much looking forward to continuing to work.
It’s really good. I’m very happy to be here. It’s been a long way for me to arrive here, and the team has been super welcoming. The mentality is something I really feel at home with, and I’m very much looking forward to continuing to work.
This is actually the first training camp where we’ve properly worked. The one we had in Germany was more about team building and fun, not so much work. This one has been quite intense, so thank you for waiting. This was the first day I could train properly in the morning, and I managed to train quite well.
On the team side, they’re also very happy to have me, and that’s something I really appreciate. I’m looking forward to giving back.
Do you already know something about your programme?
Yes. I’ll start with training camp in Teide, then my season starts in Algarve. After that it will be Algarve, Paris-Nice, Itzulia Basque Country, Fleche Wallonne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Dauphine and the Tour de France.
Yes. I’ll start with training camp in Teide, then my season starts in Algarve. After that it will be Algarve, Paris-Nice, Itzulia Basque Country, Fleche Wallonne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Dauphine and the Tour de France.
After the Tour, it will depend on how everything goes. We’ll decide later. But the road to the Tour is very clear, and I think it’s a really nice programme.
When you chose Lidl-Trek, there were a lot of rumours about your future, especially Movistar. Why did you choose this project?
Being Spanish, there’s always Movistar. It’s a Spanish team with a very strong tradition, and normally the biggest Spanish riders go there. There are also marketing reasons, and it’s normal.
Being Spanish, there’s always Movistar. It’s a Spanish team with a very strong tradition, and normally the biggest Spanish riders go there. There are also marketing reasons, and it’s normal.
But the possibility for me to leave was there, and almost every team called me. When I sat down with Thomas and especially with Luca, everything went very fast. We understood each other very well. They showed a lot of belief in me.
For me, it was very clear to join a project that is at a similar stage to where I am as a rider. We’ve both proven we can be very good, but we both still want to prove we can be the best. We’re on the same page, and that’s very exciting.
How important is it for you to be a team leader at the Tour de France?
I’m a GC rider and I’m very ambitious.
I’m a GC rider and I’m very ambitious.
As a team, Lidl-Trek wants to become more competitive in Grand Tours. They are already very strong in the classics, especially with Mads, and they wanted to broaden the spectrum.
Going to the Tour with Mads will really help me. For me, Mads is the leader of the team. I think we’ll understand each other very well and help each other. I’m really looking forward to it.
What has surprised you most about the new team?
The mentality and the work ethic. It’s a very open team.
The mentality and the work ethic. It’s a very open team.
Everything I suggested that could help me improve as a rider, where I needed team support, they were open to it or said they would look into it. In terms of preparation, wind tunnel work and all of that, it’s support I’ve never had before.
You say you want to be the best. Do you think you can win the Tour de France this year?
Saying I can win the Tour this year is not realistic. We have to know where we are.
Saying I can win the Tour this year is not realistic. We have to know where we are.
This is a long-term project, both for the team and for me. I’ve never ridden the Tour de France for myself before, so this will be my first time. The first step is aiming for the podium.
If there are opportunities to go for more, of course we’ll take them. But looking at Pogacar, if he maintains his level, there is still a gap. For this year, the goal is the podium.
Was it a blessing to ride alongside Pogacar and learn from him?
Of course. He’s the best rider in the world.
Of course. He’s the best rider in the world.
I didn’t race that many races directly with him, but every time we shared races or training camps it was good. The superstar he’s become, even beyond cycling, is good for the sport.
How do you think the pressure will change for you this year?
That’s a good question, and I think I’ll be able to answer it better in a few months.
That’s a good question, and I think I’ll be able to answer it better in a few months.
I’ve always had pressure. When you’re young, you have pressure to perform in order to get opportunities. Here, the pressure is different because they expect me to deliver, which is normal.
Will there be a single leader at the Tour, or multiple leaders?
We haven’t really spoken about it yet. We’ve only been here a few days.
We haven’t really spoken about it yet. We’ve only been here a few days.
For me, more than myself, Mads is the guy. He’s led the team many times. He’s number one for the Tour, and for me and for the team, it’s a goal to help him. Our goals can work perfectly together.
Was the programme your personal wish, or was it decided by the team?
We didn’t even really need to discuss it. It was quite obvious.
We didn’t even really need to discuss it. It was quite obvious.
I had my idea in my head, and when I spoke with Steven, my director, he had almost the exact same idea. We only had to change one or two things. Even before talking, we were on the same page.
What does success look like for you in 2026?
The most important thing is to keep improving as a rider.
The most important thing is to keep improving as a rider.
Every year I’ve taken a step forward, and I hope this year I can take two steps. I want to help the team win races and help my teammates get wins wherever we race together.
Personally, I want to enjoy cycling, enjoy the new environment and feel welcome.
What did you learn from the setbacks of the last two years?
Every year I’ve had issues. In 2023, I was injured for nearly two months without riding. In 2024, I had Covid, had to abandon the Tour, and never came back to my level. In 2025, everyone knows what happened.
Every year I’ve had issues. In 2023, I was injured for nearly two months without riding. In 2024, I had Covid, had to abandon the Tour, and never came back to my level. In 2025, everyone knows what happened.
What I really want now is consistency. Not being strong for three or four months and then having setbacks. But I’m also proud because I’ve always overcome what happened.
Do you see yourself among riders like Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel, Van der Poel and Mas?
Right now, those riders are still above me. They’ve won more and proven more.
Right now, those riders are still above me. They’ve won more and proven more.
That’s why I want to work hard and use all the support from the team to close that gap. Ask me this question next year, and hopefully I’ll have a different answer.
How big is your dream of winning the Tour de France?
Talking about dreams is difficult, because when you speak about big dreams, people criticise you or laugh.
Talking about dreams is difficult, because when you speak about big dreams, people criticise you or laugh.
But I’m very ambitious, sometimes optimistic but also realistic. It’s not realistic for me this year to think I can win the Tour, but that drive and that hope are there. That’s what gets me up every morning and motivates me to work harder than ever.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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