Ayuso keen on taking his first pro win of the season after strong start in Valenciana: "Either World Tour or Pro Continental, but I'll try to win something"

Spanish rising star Juan Ayuso made his debut as a professional rider in last week's Volta a Comunitat Valenciana where he finished 19th on the overall. This included a badly timed mechanical in the gravel section of the queen stage which cost him some time, but he has proven to be able to ride in the mountains near the best already.

"I think it was a good week to start racing, to start the year. Luck wasn't in my side in the sterrato but I knew that could happen in a section like that, nevertheless it was a good week."

Asked by CyclingPro if his goal had been achieved, Ayuso still has a positive answer: "Yes, today I also helped the team as much as possible and I haven't had any crash, it was good to get some rhythm in the legs and that's it."

As an 18-year old Ayuso had an incredible season in the under-23 ranks last year as he soared to a dominant win in the U23 Giro aswell as taking wins in the Trofeo Piva and Giro del Belvedere. Many teams had his eyes on him but it was UAE - Team Emirates who landed the contract and Ayuso started competing for the team in June, having racked up a runner-up spot in the Prueba Villafranca - Ordiziako Klasika which got him close to his first pro win.

Opportunities will arise this year though, and in the coming weeks the Spanish super talent will have some more hard racing on the meny. His goals are clear: "Keep improving, keep learning, and I hope to be able to deliver results. I don't know in which races, either World Tour or Pro Continental, but I'll try to win something," he said, and as for his schedule it is the following: "Vuelta a Andalucia, Drome/Faun-Ardèche in France and Vuelta a Catalunya".