"Cycling has changed a lot; it’s become far more universal" - Pedro Delgado on Spain's role in professional cycling; and Juan Ayuso
Cycling
Pedro Delgado has full confidence in the future of Juan Ayuso, whom he considers the brightest talent in Spanish cycling today. In an interview with the Agencia EFE after the presentation of the Gran Fondo de Valencia, where he serves as ambassador, the Tour de France winner highlighted the potential of the young rider from Xàbia.
“By potential, Juan Ayuso is the best rider we have, I have a lot of faith in him,” said Delgado, who stressed both the rider’s sporting qualities and mindset. “I think he has the quality, and he simply needs one year, two years, to reach his best. And because he has such a strong mentality, I trust him, because he’s very good,” he added.
Ayuso will miss the upcoming Ardennes Classics after medical tests following Itzulia confirmed he recently suffered a viral infection at Itzulia Basque Country which he has not recovered from. A setback that, according to Delgado, adds to a season defined by highs and lows.
“He actually started the year very well by winning the Algarve, and then at Paris–Nice he crashed while in the lead, set to face Vingegaard, which would have been a good test for future goals. At Itzulia he was ill, not fully recovered… It’s been up and down,” he noted.
The Segovian also pointed to pressure as one of the main challenges for Spain’s young star: “I think he puts a lot of pressure on himself, and sometimes when he sees he’s not meeting the projected expectations he turns it inwards, which doesn’t help him process that adversity more calmly. But of course, everyone has a character that’s hard to negotiate with.”
Even so, Delgado was upbeat about Ayuso’s trajectory and confident he will reach his peak with time.
A Spanish cycling scene in transition
Beyond Ayuso, Delgado also assessed the current state of Spanish cycling, steering clear of overly negative takes. “The level isn’t as buoyant as we could boast years ago, but it’s not that bad either, there’s no need to be defeatist,” he explained.
The former rider also recalled the historic generation that defined a golden era: “We had a period that started with me, then Miguel Indurain, Óscar Pereiro, Carlos Sastre, Alejandro Valverde, Alberto Contador… We enjoyed a golden age of cycling, stringing together young generations roughly every ten years.”
However, he also highlighted the sport’s global evolution and rising international competition: “Cycling has changed a lot; it’s become far more universal. Sport in general is much more globalized, and the Chinese haven’t even arrived yet. When the Chinese come into cycling, who knows what will happen.”
In the same vein, he stressed how hard it is to stand out now: “There are Australians, Africans coming through… The competition is fierce, and there’s a worldwide scouting of young talent who can emerge from anywhere. That means Spanish cycling isn’t at a disadvantage per se, but the level of competition is much higher now than before.”
Juan Ayuso, Lidl–Trek star
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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