Juan Ayuso plans a significant change in his schedule for 2024, shifting his main focus to the Tour de France, unlike the past two seasons where he concentrated his efforts on the Vuelta a España.
In an interview with the newspaper AS, the Spanish rider from UAE Team Emirates revealed his expectations for the upcoming year, highlighting the Tour de France and the World Championship as his primary objectives. Ayuso is convinced that the team will have to modify its strategies to achieve success in this prestigious race.
Tour de France has always been the goal
“The Vuelta is the race I have focused on in the last two years. Since I was a child, the Tour has always been in my mind. I think this year is a good time to make the change, to experience it.
“Last year, although the result in the Vuelta was a bit worse, I think I took a step forward. And in 2024, I think I will take another one. When I started cycling around here (his team’s training camp is 50 km from his home), I always saw Contador, Purito Rodríguez, and Valverde participating in the Tour… Being there and being one of them is a big dream.”
Tour de France 2024
“Just being there will be exciting. This year’s race is going to be very tough: two time trials, many things can happen. Obviously, Tadej is the leader and the number one of the team. We saw how Jumbo organized for the Vuelta. And we have to do different things to give an advantage to Tadej.
Winning a stage in the Tour or even the General Classification?
It would be a bomb. Tadej is the leader, but I won’t give up any opportunity that the race offers. I will go out to try to win a stage, and depending on how things go, fight for my personal goals for the team. Raising my arms would be a great emotion. I look at Carlos (Rodríguez, ed.) with healthy envy, who I’ve always been with, and this year he made it,” concludes an enthusiastic Juan Ayuso.
