Juan Ayuso's Lidl-Trek Transfer Doubts Erased by Volta ao Algarve Triumph

Portugal - Ekhbary News Agency

Juan Ayuso's Lidl-Trek Transfer Doubts Erased by Volta ao Algarve Triumph

The cycling world is often abuzz with speculation surrounding rider transfers and their potential impact on performance. For the talented young Spaniard, Juan Ayuso, his recent move to the Lidl-Trek team was no exception, sparking considerable discussion. As the 2024 season began to unfold, questions lingered about Ayuso's future, particularly after his departure from UAE Team Emirates, a team renowned for its recent success and home to world-class rider Tadej Pogačar. However, Ayuso, with his exceptional talent, left little room for doubt, delivering a resounding performance at the Volta ao Algarve, securing two crucial victories that solidified his status as one of cycling's brightest emerging stars.

Ayuso's victory at the Volta ao Algarve was more than just another win; it was a clear statement to anyone who doubted his ability to excel with his new team. At just 23 years old, Ayuso already boasts an impressive palmarès, including Grand Tour stage wins and numerous WorldTour triumphs. Yet, the 17th and 18th victories of his career, achieved in Portugal on Sunday, hold a special significance. The young prodigy proved he can carry his momentum forward with Lidl-Trek, making an immediate impact.

Following his stage win atop the Malhão climb and securing the overall classification, Ayuso commented, "I wanted to win as early as possible for my new employer." This statement underscored his commitment and eagerness to prove his worth swiftly to his new squad. This stellar performance coincided with his teammate, Jonathan Milan, clinching the final stage of the UAE Tour. This double success provides the German-backed Lidl-Trek team with a significant morale boost as they head into March and the main European racing calendar, facing considerably less pressure than some of their key rivals. With seven victories to date, the team is off to a strong start.

Early-season success is not entirely new territory for Ayuso. Last year, he achieved victories in both the Trofeo Laigueglia, Italy's traditional season opener, and the Faun Drome Classic in France, accomplishing this feat within a four-day span in early March. However, hitting the bullseye with his debut race for Lidl-Trek, and doing so without any attempt to fly under the radar, was a powerful way to demonstrate from the outset that he could seamlessly transition and continue his winning ways with a new team. It also served as tangible proof that his intensive three-week altitude training camp in Teide was already yielding significant results.

There were legitimate questions about whether Ayuso could maintain his winning trajectory after leaving UAE Team Emirates, a team characterized by its dominance in 2023 and 2024 and its roster featuring the world's number one rider, Tadej Pogačar. However, the answers were vividly displayed on the slopes of Alto do Foia and during the final ascent to Malhão. While winning in yellow is always a significant achievement, crossing the line with arms raised in victory for the final stage offers an even greater sense of accomplishment.

Ayuso reflected post-race: "We showed we were the strongest team in the race. To get this win when we were challenged so hard, I'm very proud to be getting it." He further elaborated on the team's crucial role: "The conclusion is more about how good the team rode, how well protected I was, not only today, but all week." He added, "Not everything was under control, but they still managed to come back from this and put me in a position to be able to win. So I’m really happy I could get this win for them."

For Lidl-Trek, especially with the likely absence of an injured Mads Pedersen from the early Classics season, Ayuso's success couldn't have been more timely. His emphasis on the team's support also highlights the intense focus on his integration into the squad, an aspect that reportedly faced scrutiny during his tenure at UAE Team Emirates.

On an individual level, Ayuso engaged in several dramatic mano-a-mano battles on the Algarve's summits. While not always emerging victorious in these direct duels, he consistently demonstrated resilience against formidable rivals. These included former teammate João Almeida, who was recognized as the most successful rider in week-long stage races in 2023, even surpassing Pogačar in that metric, and who finished second on home soil in the Algarve last year. Additionally, the rapidly emerging French talent Paul Seixas of Decathlon CMA CGM, despite achieving his first career stage win on the Foia (Stage 2) in a manner reminiscent of Pogačar's style, could not ultimately replicate Pogačar's overall dominance in the Algarve. Ayuso's superiority on the final climb to Malhão proved decisive.

With the questions surrounding Ayuso's seamless integration into his new team and his ability to move past his UAE chapter definitively answered following this landmark success in Portugal, the natural progression is to look towards his future objectives.

His immediate focus shifts to his debut at Paris-Nice. Despite limited experience in a race often decided by mere seconds, Ayuso's current formidable form, coupled with his 2023 victory in the equivalent March WorldTour event, Tirreno-Adriatico, places him squarely in the spotlight for the upcoming major stage race. It is safe to assume that when Ayuso lines up at the start in Achères on March 8th for the "Race to the Sun," he will be a rider all others must account for.

However, the competition in France is expected to be even more challenging than in the Algarve. Notably, Jonas Vingegaard, who defeated Ayuso in the 2024 Tirreno-Adriatico, has announced his return to racing at Paris-Nice after a troubled start to his season. The battle against the Danish star, alongside Almeida and the Ineos duo Kévin Vauquelin and Oscar Onley, promises a demanding and captivating contest.

Nevertheless, achieving such a strong start to the season is precisely what Ayuso and his Lidl-Trek team would have desired. This victory reaffirms his status as a rider to watch throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.

Ekhbary News Agency