Juan Ayuso emerges as one of the main contenders for victory in the upcoming edition of the Vuelta a España, which is set to commence this Saturday in the city of Barcelona. In the previous season, the Spanish cyclist from UAE Team Emirates achieved a remarkable 3rd position in the general classification, despite battling a coronavirus infection during the course of the competition. Ayuso maintains his unique perspective on the recovery process he went through.
“I was very pleased with how the Vuelta was going. I dreamed of being on the podium in my country’s tour when I was young, and when you achieve that, it’s something incredible. Before the Vuelta, I had high hopes of being able to compete for the podium with the best cyclists. During that Vuelta, I had to face the coronavirus, but fortunately, the doctors gave me the green light to continue.”
The statements continue about the circumstances happening with the athlete and Spanish cycling.
No Paracetamol or Ibuprofen
“No, I don’t like it. Even if ibuprofen or paracetamol is prescribed, I don’t want it. I’d like to get healthy again naturally. I know paracetamol doesn’t harm, but that’s just my mentality. I try to keep myself healthy with vitamins.”
On the future of Spanish cycling
“Now that the big names have retired, like Valverde and Contador, Spanish fans are looking at me. I realize that. Especially with that third place in the 2022 Vuelta a España, expectations are quite high. Everyone knows me now and wants me to win another Grand Tour for Spain someday.”
The challenges of the 2023 Vuelta a España
“I like that they have famous mountains on the route again, like the Angliru. When I used to watch it on television as a child, it really appealed to my imagination. It’s going to be very tough, but in modern cycling, it’s the riders who make the route difficult, not the route itself.”
“Last year, the final week in the Vuelta wasn’t that difficult on paper, but the cyclists set a very strong pace. All the results were analyzed afterward, and in the last week, I had to go very deep without a doubt. The cyclists are desperate for success and give everything once more. So, we’re going flat out all day.”