What is Project JUAN?

The Lidl-Trek team has just made official what was already known since the last Vuelta a España, the signing of Juan Ayuso until 2030. The 23-year-old Spanish young talent, considered one of the great promises of world cycling, thus becomes the central piece of an ambitious medium and long-term plan of the American team to conquer a Grand Tour in the coming years.

Lidl Trek announces the signing of Ayuso until 2030: Project Juan begins

Ayuso burst onto the scene in 2022 with a historic third place in his debut at the Vuelta a España. Since then, he has continued to grow, with a fourth place in the 2023 edition and the white jersey for best young rider, as well as overall victories in the Itzulia Basque Country and Tirreno-Adriatico, stage wins in the Giro and the Vuelta, and four time trial wins in his palmares. His combination of explosiveness in the mountains and power against the clock make him a complete rider for the general classifications.

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With his arrival, Lidl-Trek strengthens its commitment to the Grand Tours and, above all, defines a clear strategy: to build a competitive team around Ayuso capable of rivaling the best WorldTour teams. The cyclist himself acknowledges that the signing represents a new chapter in his career: "I am really excited. This project is unique and special. Here I feel that I can take a step further in my development, surrounded by a team that shares my same goals."

Luca Guercilena, general manager of Lidl-Trek, also emphasized the importance of this move: "Juan is one of the biggest young talents in the peloton. He is already among the best climbers and time trialists in the world, and he still has room for improvement. With him, we want to take a key step towards our goal of being the best team in the WorldTour."

Project Juan is not just the signing of a cyclist, but the roadmap that will shape the future of Lidl-Trek. A long-term project in which Ayuso will be the natural leader with the mission of, sooner or later, raising his arms in Rome, Paris, or Madrid.