‘With another team I would have lost the Volta ao Algarve’ - Ayuso contrasts Lidl-Trek start with UAE spell

Juan Ayuso opened his Lidl-Trek tenure with overall victory at the Volta ao Algarve, converting his first race in new colours into an immediate validation of his winter switch from UAE Team Emirates-XRG. He pointed to a blend of people, process and marginal gains as the difference-makers.

“Above all, I stay with the human group,” the 23-year-old told Marca, highlighting how quickly he felt settled. “Lidl-Trek is beginning to make a significant investment to have more resources: kitchen truck, resources for recovery... As a structure, I lack nothing; I even have more means at my disposal than I had before. But, if I have to choose something, I choose the human group, because they make me feel very comfortable and they are great professionals.”

That sense of cohesion showed when the race hinged on the final day, with Ayuso's lead in the standings slim over both Paul Seixas and former teammate Joao Almeida. Lidl-Trek’s organisation held firm under pressure, and Ayuso didn’t hesitate to credit the collective. “With another team I would have lost the Tour of the Algarve,” he said.

Speaking to Domestique after the stage and GC win, the Spaniard said, “My teammates controlled it perfectly, and also in the final, it was a very tense race, quite nervous because they tried to isolate me the first time up Malhão and then again, the team responded perfectly again: then Lenny [Kämna], Carlos [Verona] and Héctor [Álvarez] did a great job,”

Behind the results, Ayuso pointed to concrete performance gains, starting with aerodynamics. “For example, in the wind tunnel we managed to improve my position in the time trial again, something that, from my point of view, was difficult to perfect and that I preferred not to touch; however, thanks to them I have managed to take another step forward.” He admitted those refinements came from small, carefully managed tweaks rather than wholesale changes.

That carries into his 2026 self-assessment. “In the time trial I took a step forward again due to a small change of position and the new material – the new helmet suits me very well. In the rest of the areas, as always, trying to improve in everything and polishing the details. However, there is less mystery in that section than people can imagine.”

Lidl-Trek are still building, but Ayuso says he already notices the difference in the small things. Some of the planned upgrades are still to come, yet he feels the structure around him is moving in the right direction. The added recovery support and smoother logistics, combined with a staff he trusts, have made his day to day routine clearer and calmer.

His next target is Paris-Nice, the so called 'Race to the Sun', starting on March 8. From there he heads to Itzulia Basque Country, followed by the Ardennes double of La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. 

He will then line-up at the Tour Auvergne Rhône Alpes before building towards the main goal of the summer, his first Tour de France.