“Something is going on, that’s obvious”: Juan Ayuso’s coach admits something is wrong

The first season of Juan Ayuso at Lidl-Trek has ended far from the expectations that accompanied his signing. What until now could be interpreted as a lack of results is also a concern within the team. His coach, Aritz Arberas, acknowledges that the cyclist is not performing at the level he should be and that they still have not managed to find an explanation.

Ayuso's training data does not explain his results

Juan Ayuso's arrival at Lidl-Trek was supposed to mark the beginning of a new stage in his sports career. After his controversial departure from UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the Spaniard found a project willing to bet on him long-term, with a contract until 2030 and the opportunity to take on a leading role.

However, his first year in the structure has left more doubts than certainties. And it is not just an external assessment. His own coach has confirmed that there is a difficult-to-explain difference between the performance Ayuso achieves during his preparation and what he subsequently manages to translate into competition.

In an interview granted to journalist Daniel Arribas, Aritz Arberas openly acknowledged the concern surrounding the rider.

RECOMENDADO

The 2026 Tour of Guangxi brings the WorldTour season to a close, with Ayuso, Pidcock and Vauquelin among the favourites

Evenepoel smashes the clock in Les Herbiers to win the 2026 Chrono des Nations by more than two minutes

Pogačar reveals what caused his crash at La Vuelta and outlines his three major goals for 2027

When a trail disappears, someone has to rebuild it: how Olentzero was restored in Navarre

Jarno Widar leaves Pidcock with no answer to claim the 2026 Tour of Guangxi

Evenepoel, Küng and Vine go head-to-head in the year’s final major time trial today: start times and where to watch

"Something is wrong, it's evident", admits the coach, who believes that the results obtained this season do not reflect Ayuso's real capabilities.

The most concerning aspect for the Lidl-Trek coaching staff is not so much that Ayuso has had an irregular season, but that they cannot find a clear explanation for this situation.

According to Arberas, the cyclist has correctly completed the planned preparation, including altitude training camps and specific sessions to tackle his main objectives. The records obtained during training pointed to a level that he has not been able to reproduce in races.

The coach expresses it emphatically when analyzing his performances: "His performances are not what corresponds to a cyclist of his level". And as he explains, even Ayuso himself does not understand what is happening. After competitions, both analyze what occurred and look for possible explanations, but so far they have not managed to identify the cause.

Arberas acknowledges that when the cyclist asks him what is happening, his answer remains the same: "we do not have the answer".

For this reason, the team has begun to study different factors that could be affecting his performance. The review includes both sports data and his health status and possible medical issues, although so far no specific cause has been identified.

A good start that did not continue

Ayuso's 2026 season started very differently from how it has ended. His victory in the Volta ao Algarve, where he surpassed Paul Seixas and João Almeida, seemed to confirm that his adaptation to Lidl-Trek was progressing as expected.

But that victory ended up being an exception within a year marked by setbacks.

In Paris-Nice, he suffered a fall while leading the general classification. Subsequently, health issues affected his participation in the Itzulia and the Critérium du Dauphiné, where he managed to finish third despite the difficulties.

The Tour de France also did not meet his aspirations. Ayuso finished seventh in the general classification, behind his teammate Mattias Skjelmose, a result that fell far short of what he expected to achieve in his first participation wearing the colors of Lidl-Trek.

He could not change the trend during the last stretch of the calendar, despite having specifically prepared for the World Championship.

His last opportunity came at the Tour of Guangxi, where he finished sixth in the general classification. A race that, according to his coach, he attended on his own initiative.

Ayuso asked to race in China because he felt he owed Lidl-Trek

The Spaniard's presence at the Tour of Guangxi drew attention because it is not common for a rider of his aspirations to extend the season to the last event on the WorldTour calendar. But Arberas explained that it was Ayuso himself who requested to participate.

The cyclist was aware that his results had not lived up to expectations and wanted to seize one last opportunity to achieve a victory to repay the trust placed in him.

His coach interprets that decision as a sign of commitment and maturity. He also assures that Lidl-Trek understands the situation and has conveyed reassurance to the rider, although that does not eliminate the frustration caused by such a complicated season.

Lidl-Trek will seek answers before preparing for 2027

With the season over, the team's main objective is no longer to improve immediate results, but to understand what has prevented Ayuso from reaching his best level.

The competitive pause will allow for a deeper study of training records and analysis of possible physical factors that were more complicated to investigate during the racing calendar.

The team plans to gather riders, coaches, and directors at its German headquarters before the holidays. Subsequently, they will begin preparations for 2027, with a training camp in Alicante.

Despite all the difficulties, Arberas does not believe that Ayuso should lower his aspirations.

His coach still sees in him a cyclist capable of winning week-long tours, competing in grand tours, and racing in one-day events. He also defends that goals such as winning a World Championship are legitimate for a rider of his characteristics.