Spanish GC rider Juan Ayuso has signed for Lidl-Trek until 2030 after breaking his contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG earlier this summer, his new team announced on Thursday.
During the Vuelta a España, Ayuso and UAE Team Emirates announced that they had mutually terminated the rider’s contract, which was originally set to run until the end of 2028.
The 23-year-old joins the team on a five-year contract, moving teams for the first time in his professional career after “differences in the vision of development plans and in the alignment with the team’s sporting philosophy” made his future at UAE untenable.
Despite the drama between Ayuso and his former team, which played out at the Vuelta a España for UAE, he will see out the current season with the Emirati squad before joining Lidl-Trek.
With Lidl-Trek, he has a fresh start and will fill an important hole that the very successful US team were missing – a true leader who can chase overall podiums and victories in the future at Grand Tours.
“I’m really excited. Joining Lidl-Trek is the start of an important new chapter in my career, and I’m motivated to keep growing as a rider,” said Ayuso in Lidl-Trek’s announcement. “Change always brings new energy and ambitions, so I can’t wait to get started.
“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.”
While Ayuso’s recent Vuelta wasn’t a GC success – after he made it clear the Worlds in Kigali was his real goal for the latter part of the 2025 season – he’s still had a very strong year,…
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