Lidl-Trek arrives at the Grande Boucle with a lineup that combines ambitions for the general classification with great firepower for stage victories. Coming off a third-place finish at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Juan Ayuso will lead the team in the race for the yellow jersey. The Spanish rider has long been considered one of cycling's brightest talents and, after a promising first part of the season, arrives at the Tour with realistic aspirations to compete with the favorites. He has major ambitions for the next three weeks: the objective is obviously to stand on the highest step of the podium in Paris.

"At the Tour, everything can change from one day to the next. It's crucial not to lose time and to conserve energy in the early stages. We're expecting demanding days in the first week, but it shouldn't be too crazy until the second week's weekend. There and throughout the final week, the general classification will be decided. I need to reach the first rest day trying to save as much energy as possible, avoiding crashes, illness, and arriving at the final week with the possibility to fight for the classification".

Mattias Skjelmose is the team's second rider targeting the general classification and, like Ayuso, will be able to count on Derek Gee and Carlos Verona.

The team's strength, however, goes well beyond the mountains. Mathias Vacek is equally capable of controlling the race on rolling terrain or making a difference in flat stages. Toms Skujiņš and Quinn Simmons offer aggression and power, can target stage victories while also protecting Ayuso and Skjelmose during the first week, which is often chaotic.

Finally, Mads Pedersen, a two-time Tour stage winner, remains one of the biggest threats for stage victories. The Danish rider has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to resist on difficult terrain before outsprinting small groups: "The main objective for the Tour is to win a stage, and then we're also aiming for the green jersey, even though the new points system isn't in our favor. But nothing is impossible, and we've seen other riders manage it in the past, even when we didn't expect it, so we accept the challenge and believe we can do it".

Sporting director Steven de Jongh explains the choice to field a balanced team for the race: "The team's main objectives are a good general classification result with Juan and, of course, with Mads seeking the green jersey, plus winning stages. Juan is our general classification leader and we also have Skjelmose in a supporting role. Derek Gee is a very important climber and can serve as a satellite in mountain stages, providing crucial support to Juan and Skelly. Of course, we have Mads. He's a rider targeting the green jersey and hardly needs an introduction. He's very strong and competitive in sprints and manages to stay with the group even on days when normally sprinters get dropped. He's incredibly good in breakaways, as is Vacek, who can join him. The same goes for Quinn, also in excellent form and coming off a victory at the National Championships".

Full roster: Juan Ayuso, Derek Gee-West, Mads Pedersen, Quinn Simmons, Mattias Skjelmose, Mathias Vacek, Carlos Verona, Toms Skujiņš