"With the same enthusiasm as when I started": Carlos Verona wants to help Juan Ayuso win a Grand Tour

Carlos Verona approaches a new WorldTour season with the calm that experience brings and the intact motivation of someone who still feels he has plenty to offer. At 33, the Madrilenian is in a special moment within a reinforced, ambitious Lidl-Trek aiming to become the best team in the peloton, now further boosted by the arrival of Juan Ayuso.

Verona enters his tenth WorldTour season with sensations very similar to those of his early years. In an interview with MARCA, he admits he still has "the same enthusiasm as when I started," something he values highly after so many seasons. He notes he has spent more time than ever with the team and that the three-year project ahead is highly stimulating. At this final stage of his career, his goal is clear: "squeeze every season to the maximum and keep raising my level year after year to leave it as high as possible."

Among the challenges still to tick off, Verona points to one above the rest: winning a Grand Tour by helping a teammate. He firmly believes it is now possible, given the team’s evolution and recent signings. He even raised that ambition with the sports management and felt reinforced when he heard that the chosen path heads in that direction. For the Spaniard, it’s not about rushing, but about keeping "the conviction that it can happen" within an ever-stronger, better-resourced setup.

On the sporting side, his season will start at the Volta ao Algarve to assess his condition after altitude camp. Then comes another one-week stage race, with Paris–Nice or the Volta a Catalunya as main options, before a break geared toward preparing the Tour de France. Securing a spot at the French Grand Tour will be tough given heavy internal competition, but Verona makes no secret of his desire to be part of the squad, also attracted by the Grand Départ in Barcelona and his strong rapport with riders like Mads Pedersen.

The accumulation of talent at Lidl-Trek creates coexistence challenges, something Verona takes in stride. He believes the collective spirit must always trump individual ambitions and recalls that many leaders have already shown they can work for others. In his veteran role, he sees himself as a key piece to provide balance, protect group harmony, and help manage potential egos within a team culture he describes as solid.

Beyond that dream of winning a Grand Tour through collective work, Verona is not chasing specific individual goals. He says that if the chance to fight for something more ever arises, he would seize it with determination, but never at the expense of a teammate’s misfortune. His priority is clear: "to contribute to collective success and be there when the team needs me."

Asked about the possibility of dethroning Tadej Pogacar, the Madrilenian is realistic. He acknowledges the Slovenian is currently "a step ahead," though he stresses cycling changes quickly. He highlights the team’s commitment to training and innovation, and is convinced that with consistency and sound processes, Lidl-Trek can reach the very top one day.

Verona does not set a specific date for the team’s definitive leap. He sees it as part of a medium- and long-term process, where it’s vital to progress without haste or anxiety. For him, pressure can be positive as long as it doesn’t become an obsession, and the key is to be ready when the opportunity comes.

On Juan Ayuso, Verona conveys very positive impressions. He sees him motivated, excited, and bringing an energy that has lifted the group. He believes his arrival fills an obvious need for the team in stage races and adds ambition and more options across the calendar. On a personal level, he notes he has discovered "a young, intelligent guy, eager to learn and progress," convinced that at Lidl-Trek he can develop fully.

Verona especially values Ayuso’s character and the way he expresses himself. He has advised him not to be afraid to say what he thinks, even when it’s not the most politically correct. He believes in charismatic leaders and straight talkers, while adding that, with time, you learn which battles are worth fighting.

After years within the structure, Verona feels fortunate to be part of a team that wants to be number one. He accepts the road will not be linear and that mistakes will be made, but stresses there are tools, riders, and backing in place to attack that goal with ambition and motivation.

Off the road, the 33-year-old continues to cultivate his role as organiser and entrepreneur. He admits he needs projects beyond the bike and welcomes the growth of the classic he organises, which will take another step up next year. When it’s time to prepare major targets like the Tour, though, he switches off completely so nothing interferes.

Finally, Verona is excited about the progression of young talents such as Héctor Álvarez. He highlights his huge potential, steady process, and maturity, and considers it a privilege to help in his development. His wish is clear: that he can deliver plenty of joy for both Lidl-Trek and Spanish cycling.