Lidl–Trek announced on 16 April that Juan Ayuso will withdraw from the upcoming Ardennes Classics, that's Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège, after medical tests confirmed a recent viral infection. The 23-year-old Spaniard abandoned Itzulia Basque Country on 9 April, and the team determined he is not yet physically ready to return to professional competition.
The withdrawal removes Ayuso from three of the season's key hilly one-day races and marks the latest setback in a spring interrupted by crashes, illness, and abandonments despite an early-season win at the Volta ao Algarve in February.
Condition deterioration at Itzulia
Ayuso's condition worsened across the stages at Itzulia Basque Country. Stomach problems that began on Stage 2 intensified throughout the week, leaving him unable to race effectively. At the start of Stage 4, he told media: "I think yesterday I was faster from the finish to the bus to try to go to the bathroom than during the stage itself."
In an official statement, the team said "Unfortunately Juan Ayuso will miss the upcoming Ardennes Classics. Medical tests after Itzulia Basque Country showed a recent viral infection and the Spaniard is not yet ready to return to competition."
Before his Stage 4 abandonment at Itzulia, he reflected on the pattern, saying: "It's more moments like the one I'm going through now, where nothing really works the way you want. You have to try to stay calm, not lose sight of the bigger goal and remember that the biggest achievements are still to come, and try to get through it."
Spring pattern of disruption
The deterioration extends beyond Itzulia. Ayuso's early-season preparation had already been disrupted by a crash at Paris–Nice and a training fall, stacking disruptions before the viral infection struck. The team chose not to attempt an immediate return after the Itzulia DNF, instead ordering recovery over racing.
The Ardennes Classics withdrawal has immediate racing consequences. The three races are clear key targets on the spring calendar, and Ayuso was expected to feature prominently in the hilly terrain. The withdrawal removes him from a critical block at a moment when riders typically use stage races and one-day events to build form ahead of the Grand Tours.
Ayuso won the Volta ao Algarve in February, but the subsequent weeks have been dominated by attempts to race through physical problems. The Ardennes miss now extends that pattern. The team has not announced a timeline for his return. The practical implication is that Ayuso's spring campaign is now focused on recovery rather than racing, with future objectives dependent on his ability to clear the viral infection and rebuild fitness away from competition.
Cover image credit: Billy Ceusters
