Juan Ayuso Signs Five-Year Deal with Lidl-Trek Following UAE Team Emirates Departure
Rising cycling star Juan ayuso has signed a five-year contract with Lidl-Trek, the team announced today. The move comes after a period with UAE Team Emirates, where a planned project didn’t materialize as initially envisioned.
Ayuso, 23, expressed his enthusiasm for the new chapter in his career. “I’m really excited. joining Lidl-Trek is the start of an critically important new chapter in my career, and I’m motivated to keep growing as a rider,” he said in a team statement. “Change always brings new energy and ambitions, so I can’t wait to get started.”
He highlighted the team’s strong identity and long-term ambitions as key factors in his decision. “From the outside, you can see the Team has built a strong identity, with a lot of unity and ambition. The long-term project they’re putting together is something quite unique and special.it feels like a place where I can take the next step in my development, surrounded by riders and staff who share the same goals. I want to keep improving in the biggest races; the Team has the ambition to become the best team in the world, so I’m really looking forward to contributing to that success.”
Despite a Vuelta a España that didn’t result in a general classification success – with his focus on the 2025 UCI Road World championships in Kigali – Ayuso has enjoyed a prosperous 2023 season, securing eight victories. These include a stage win at the Giro d’Italia, overall GC victory and a stage at Tirreno-Adriatico, and two stage wins at the Vuelta.
Lidl-trek general manager Luca Guercilena praised Ayuso’s talent and potential. “Juan is one of the brightest young talents in cycling,” Guercilena stated. “He is already one of the best climbers and time trialists in the world, which makes for a very exciting package. At only 23 years old, he still has room to grow, and we are committed to giving him all the support he needs to reach his full potential. Bringing Juan on board is an important step in our long-term vision, and we are excited to see what we can achieve together in the years ahead.”
Ayuso will conclude his commitments with UAE Team Emirates at the European Championships in France and Il Lombardia before officially joining Lidl-Trek at the end of the year. He recently competed against soon-to-be former teammate Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel at the World Championships.
