Lidl-Trek comes to La Grande Boucle with a balanced line-up, combining general classification ambitions with a wealth of stage-winning firepower
Barcelona sets the stage for the Grand Départ. The biggest bike race in the world is around the corner – a sleeping lion, soon to roar. Preparation complete, plans written, strategies decided, riders primed to their physical peak. It all leads to the Tour de France. We’re ready, and we hope you are too.
Fresh off his third place finish at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Juan Ayuso will lead the team’s yellow jersey campaign. The Spaniard has long been regarded as one of cycling’s brightest talents, and after a promising first half of the season, arrives at the Tour with realistic aspirations of competing against the race favourites. He has big ambitions for the next three weeks:
The goal is obviously to be on one step on the podium of Paris. It's still going to be three weeks of hard work, and we will see what we can achieve.
Everything can change in the Tour on any day. It's important to just not lose time and save energy in the first stages. We have some hard days in the first week but it shouldn't be too crazy until the weekend of the second week. There and throughout the last week the GC will be decided.
I need to pass until the first rest day trying to save as much energy as possible, not having any crashes, getting sick and then arriving to the last week with a chance to be in play.
Image: Chris Auld
Mattias Skjelmose is the squad’s second protected GC rider and there is an impressive mountain support unit around both him and Ayuso. After a successful Giro d’Italia, Derek Gee continues to be one of the sport’s strongest all-round stage racers and will be crucial in the mountains, while Carlos Verona adds vital experience and climbing prowess.
The team’s strength, however, extends well beyond the mountains. Mathias Vacek is equally capable of controlling the race on rolling terrain or delivering huge turns on flatter stages. Toms Skujiņš and Quinn Simmons provide aggression and horsepower, allowing them options to chase stage victories from breakaways while also protecting Ayuso and Skjelmose through the often-chaotic opening week.
Finally, two-time Tour stage winner Mads Pedersen remains one of the race’s biggest stage-winning threats. The Dane has consistently demonstrated his ability to survive difficult terrain before outsprinting reduced groups, making him a contender on several of the Tour’s punchier stages and for the green jersey competition. His presence also ensures Lidl-Trek are not solely dependent on the general classification, giving the team multiple objectives throughout the race.
The feeling is pretty good, especially now after Nationals. It was nice to pin the numbers again and be back racing. It's been a long time, so it's always nice to see to see how it feels when other guys are in the peloton and pushing the limits as well.
The main goal for the Tour is is winning a stage, and then we're trying to aim for the for the green jersey as well, even though new points system is not in our favor. But nothing is impossible, and we have seen other riders do it before where we didn't expect it so we offer the challenge and believe we can do it.
Image: Chris Auld
Stage one’s team time trial to is expected to shake the general classification up early. Lidl-Trek has invested heavily in preparing for the stage through extensive aerodynamic testing in the windtunnel, optimising equipment choices and pacing strategies.
Sports director Steven de Jongh explains the choice to select a well-balanced and varied team of talent for the race:
The main big goals for the team are finishing up high in the general classification with Juan and of course with Mads trying to win the green jersey, plus we would like to win stages. Juan is our GC leader and we also have Skjelmose in a protected role. Derek Gee is a very important rider in the climbs and can be a satellite rider in mountain stages and crucial help for Juan and Skjelly.
Of course, we have Mads. He will go for green and almost doesn’t need an introduction. He is so strong and competitive in the sprints and even on days when sprinters will normally get dropped he can survive. He is crazy good at going in the breakaway, so is Vacek who can join him there. Same for Quinn, he is also in good shape and just won the Nationals so he can give support when he needs, like riding in the valleys, and go in the break if there is a chance. Carlos can give support and protection to the riders, while Toms has a similar role to Vacek to help position Mads and give protection to Juan and Skjelly on the days where they need it. We’ve had great preparation for the TTT and have high expectations of being competitive.
Overall, Lidl-Trek heads into the Tour with riders capable of challenging for the overall podium, while retaining the depth to animate breakaways, contest sprints and target multiple stage victories throughout the three weeks.
Full line-up: Juan Ayuso, Derek Gee-West, Mads Pedersen, Quinn Simmons, Mattias Skjelmose, Mathias Vacek, Carlos Verona, Toms Skujiņš
