2026 was supposed to be the season of consecration for Juan Ayuso and there is still room for it to truly be so. The Spanish talent spent his first five years as a professional with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, claiming 16 victories, including the 2024 Tour of the Basque Country, the 2025 Tirreno-Adriatico and two stages in last year's Vuelta, when the Emirati team announced his departure.

Ayuso left in search of greener pastures and a leadership role that would allow him to express both his winning instinct and his ambitions in the Grand Tours; he found a home at Lidl-Trek, a team engaged in a transformation process with the goal of becoming an even stronger force in the peloton, renewing both its roster of riders and its staff.

How are you feeling ahead of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes?
«I can't wait to wear a race number again at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The focus has shifted to July, with reconnaissance of some key stages of the upcoming Tour de France in the Alps alongside the team. This race marks the beginning of our final preparation for this major objective, including the opportunity to tackle the Plateau de Solaison climb, as we will do again in the Grand Boucle».

It's been almost two months since you last wore a race number. Did you need time to recharge after all these setbacks?
«My 2026 season has been up and down: I've achieved good results, but then I suffered due to crashes and illness. These two months without racing gave me the opportunity to recharge and I can't wait to get back to racing».

What do you expect from the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes? Does the competition with other emerging stars like Paul Seixas and Isaac del Toro add an extra element of excitement to your return to racing?
«It won't be an easy race. The competition is fierce, so I'm sure it will be an exciting race to watch: I hope to be one of the protagonists in the fight for the general classification».

How important is the team time trial in Perreux? There's a similar one opening the Tour de France in Barcelona...
«Having another opportunity to race a team time trial before July will be important, because we know that the opening time trial in Barcelona will be crucial for anyone targeting the general classification and I think as a team we have excellent chances to fight for the stage victory as well. It has been a key objective for the team also in terms of training, so it will be positive to have another race experience before July».