Juan Ayuso proved he’s again to his perfect with total victory at Tirreno-Adriatico, including his title to this yr’s checklist of true Giro d’Italia contenders and reminding everybody that UAE Workforce Emirates-XRG isn’t just about Tadej Pogačar.
The 22-year-old Spaniard seems to undergo in Pogačar’s shadow however then blooms when he can goal his personal main objectives. With Pogačar focused on the Classics this spring, Ayuso used to be in a position to coach particularly for Tirreno-Adriatico and also will lead UAE on the Volta a Catalunya, earlier than that specialize in the Giro.
“This was a big goal from the beginning of the season, towards the Giro. It was the first big step I wanted to take,” Ayuso stated at Tirreno-Adriatico with pride, rewarding himself with an additional break day in Italy along with his female friend and circle of relatives as a non-public praise.
“I needed to prove myself, and I needed to show that I’m ready, and I think I’ve done it.
“This wintry weather I have progressed so much. I did not development in 2023, I had set again after set again, then remaining yr, having COVID-19 on the Excursion. I needed to pass house, then I simply by no means recovered. In biking they are saying that you are as excellent as your remaining race, and my remaining races of remaining season have been terrible.”
Ayuso is in his fourth season at UAE Team Emirates but he is still only 22. He is prodigious talent for his age but still learning.
The cold and rain of Tirreno-Adiatico tempered his character.
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“We are going to have some days like this on the Giro and so I’ve to get used to it,” he stated.
“Tirreno used to be an extremely arduous second with the chilly. After the day of 240km, I believed it could not pass worse, after which the next day to come it used to be even chillier and at the downhill. There have been moderately some refined moments that I needed to get via.
“I knew I had to stay concentrated and just wait for Saturday’s mountain finish and then try to make a difference there. It worked out that way.”
Operating more difficult than ever
Juan Ayuso wins level 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico to setup total victory (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
Ayuso claimed he has labored more difficult than ever this wintry weather, including health club paintings to his educate time table, making improvements to his vitamin and hitting his race weight early within the yr after a pre-season block of altitude coaching.
“This team gives us everything to perform but my point of view is that I work extremely hard too,” he defined.
“I basically haven’t been home for two and a half months. I weigh everything I eat, I train as hard as I can, even if it’s raining. I do what I have to do. It’s hard but in the end, it pays off. Cycling this thing that if you work hard, it gives back but it’s extremely hard.”
Ayuso believed much less is extra as he objectives the Giro d’Italia for the primary time in his occupation.
“I’ve always cracked at the Tour de Romandie in the past. So if I wanted to be well in the Giro, then my preparation had to be different,” he defined.
“This year I’ll do Catalunya, have about a week and a half at home, and then three weeks in Sierra Nevada, and then I go directly to the Giro.”
“I think I can still keep on improving. If I manage to recover from these races, and the body takes it all in, then I should improve another step, and then with another altitude training camp, I can perhaps be even better.”
Comparisons with Pogačar
Juan Ayuso in time trial motion on the 2025 Tirreno-Adriatico (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
“I don’t like comparisons, one, because they’re all better riders than me and two because I’d like to be myself, win the races I need to win and lose the races I need to lose.
“Remaining yr it used to be moderately a unique yr as it used to be the primary time the largest function of the season (the Excursion de France) used to be now not in opposition to me, it used to be in opposition to a teammate (Pogačar) and it is not one thing I am used to doing. This yr, my greatest function is the Giro and so the power falls on me, and that’s one thing I love.
“Tadej is the best rider in the world, so you have to race for him. So every every chance you get in this team, you have to really show and prove you’re worth it. I’m glad that I could win here.”
