Photo via Cyclingnews

'Performances aren’t what you’d expect from a cyclist of his calibre' – Mystery surrounds Juan Ayuso’s 2026 race form

Juan Ayuso’s 2026 campaign with Lidl‑Trek began promisingly with a win at the Volta ao Algarve in February, but the season quickly lost momentum. A crash forced him out of Paris‑Nice, he abandoned the Itzulia Basque Country after a viral infection sidelined him from the Ardennes Classics, and his best Grand Tour result was a seventh place at the Tour de France, behind former teammate Tadej Pogačar.

Subsequent setbacks included a crash at the GP Cycliste de Montréal and only a sixth‑place finish at the Tour of Guangxi, the final race of his year.

Lidl‑Trek’s staff, led by coach Aritz Arberas, are now analysing every data point – from health checks to training metrics – to explain why Ayuso’s performances have fallen short of expectations for a rider of his calibre. While the team is also bolstering its roster with GC podium finisher Felix Gall, they maintain that Ayuso’s objectives for 2027 remain unchanged, targeting Grand Tours, classics and week‑long stage races.

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