'Our first time on a different bus' – Ayuso faces Almeida duel on Lidl-Trek debut in Algarve

One of those headline stories is the fact that it marks the first race where João Almeida and Juan Ayuso will race against one another since the latter's switch from UAE Team Emirates-XRG to Lidl-Trek. 

The duo make up part of a strong start list of GC contenders that also includes Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Oscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers), and Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM). Almeida was runner-up last year behind Jonas Vingegaard, while Ayuso will make his debut at the race.

Much has been made of Ayuso’s switch from UAE Team Emirates-XRG, a team where he picked up 16 victories, including the GC at Tirreno-Adriatico, and three Grand Tour stage wins, as well as becoming the second youngest male rider behind Henri Cornet in 1904 to finish on the podium of a Grand Tour. 

The duo featured alongside Afonso Silva (Team Tavira/Crédito Agrícola) in the pre-race press conference on Tuesday afternoon, speaking to the media, including Domestique. Ayuso, inevitably, was asked plenty of questions about the transfer and the early days with his new team.

“I’ve come directly from Teide, so the preparations are going quite well. I've been there for three weeks with the team, and yeah, it's one of the camps I've most enjoyed,” said Ayuso. “Up to now, it's been a really nice period with the team, but now the real work starts tomorrow, and I hope I can be ready.”

Ayuso was asked if there was any extra motivation fueled by racing against his old team, but the 23-year-old deftly side-stepped the question.

“As you say, I think it's the first race, I'll race directly against them, apart from Worlds or Europeans, but there you're racing for the national team. But at the end of the day, there's a lot of other teams that are also strong, so yeah, have to pay attention to everyone,” said Ayuso.

Almeida was asked what similarities he shares with Ayuso, and the Portuguese rider looked at their attributes on the bike.

“I think we’re pretty similar riders, he’s probably a little stronger than me in the time trial, and then when it comes to climbing, I think we are pretty similar, so I think it’s going to be a good race, we’re going to have fun and test the legs for real," said Almeida.

Ayuso was also asked the same question, and the Spanish rider explained the similar nature in one another’s demeanour.

“I think we’re quite similar people in terms of managing pressure and stress, both quite calm on the bus, and it’s going to be the first time we are on a different bus, so yeah, that’s the only different part," said Ayuso.

The route for the 2026 edition features five stages, including two mountain-top finishes on two staple climbs of the race, the Alto da Fóia on stage 2, and the Alto do Malhão on stage 5, as well as a 19.5 kilometre individual time trial on stage 3.

The race will climb to Fóia from a different approach than in previous years, and there will be a double ascent of Malhão on the final day.

“I think the main GC day is Thursday [Fóia]," Ayuso said when asked by Domestique. “Before I thought it was mainly going to be the time trial, but after seeing the climb, it’s much harder than what I expected, so I think Thursday is the day where the most time gaps can be made, but then of course the time trial or the last day can be decisive too.”

Almeida simply nodded and said, "I agree." The opening stage to Tavira looks to be one for the sprinters, but Almeida and Ayuso won't have to wait too long for the first GC battle on the slopes of the Alto da Fóia on stage 2.