Juan Ayuso responds calmly to Skjelmose’s doubts about Lidl-Trek move

“I can understand some parts of his reaction. If the team told him 'you are the leader', then it’s natural to feel some frustration,” Ayuso said to Feltet.dk ahead of the European Championships. “But it’s normal for a top team to keep bringing in strong riders. You can’t become one of the best with only a single GC contender.”

Skjelmose had voiced his concerns before the World Championships in Rwanda, telling Danish media he hadn’t been informed about Ayuso’s arrival. “Lidl-Trek have said they believe in me. I don’t know how the signing of Ayuso fits into that,” he said. “They’ve told me for years they wanted to build a team around me, but I don’t think they’ve brought him in as a domestique.”

Ayuso, who will leave UAE Team Emirates to join Lidl-Trek in 2026, sees the decision as a reflection of the team’s ambition. “Look at UAE, Visma | Lease a Bike or Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, they all have several GC riders. If you want to be a superteam, that’s the way forward,” he said. “It’s just the natural evolution of a team that invests and believes in its project.”

The Spaniard stressed that he has no issue sharing leadership duties. “I don’t know Mattias personally. I only know him from racing against him, which is always different. We’ll see how it goes once we’re teammates,” he said.

That measured tone is echoed within the team. Lidl-Trek sports director Kim Andersen also addressed the situation in comments to Feltet.dk, emphasising that competition between leaders is both natural and healthy. “I told Mattias that this is a natural development for the team. I believe in him, and he believes in himself. He’s ready to take on the challenge. Other teams also have multiple leaders, and it’s up to them to show who’s the strongest.”

With both riders set to share the same jersey from 2026, Lidl-Trek’s growing ambition looks set to bring not only more depth, but also a new layer of competitiveness within the team.