No doubt, Juan Ayuso is the main source of enthusiasm for the local fans before the start of the Vuelta a España. The young cyclist, at only 20 years old, from UAE Team Emirates, made history by reaching the podium in his first participation in the Vuelta in 2022. Now, he presents himself at the start in Barcelona full of ambition and determination.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca, Ayuso made it clear that he is full of ambition and aims to achieve a remarkable performance, continuing to surprise everyone, even in the presence of renowned names like Remco Evenepoel, Primoz Roglic, and Jonas Vingegaard in the competition.
When asked about his goal, the Spanish rider stated: “With a lot of desire, ambition, and excitement to perform well. The biggest dream has always been to win a Grand Tour. Looking at the participation, the truth is that it’s very complicated. I’ve prepared very well for this race. The goal is to try to win a stage. Last year I was close, but it didn’t happen, and now I’m very excited. The first thing I’m looking for is a stage win and then try to be in the fight for the general classification.
When asked about his partnership with João Almeida, Ayuso also shared his thoughts. He has raced more this year than I have, I haven’t done many races. The road will dictate how we should act. We know that together we are stronger. Not only because of Jumbo-Visma, but also against riders like Remco and the others, we have to work together to gain an advantage.”
To conclude, Ayuso stated what he expects from Jonas Vingegaard in the Vuelta a España. “I hope he doesn’t arrive at 100%, because if he does, as we saw in the Tour, it’s hard even for Tadej. Imagine the rest… But we’ve also prepared well, and now the race will put us in our place.”