"Everything will be blown up!" - Juan Ayuso expects 'tough and explosive' final stage at Itzulia Basque Country

With just one stage to go at the 2024 Itzulia Basque Country, it's still all to play for in the general classification. Very much still in the mix, Juan Ayuso will start the final stage 3rd in the GC, 4 seconds down on Mattias Skjelmose.

"A tough and explosive stage awaits us," the 21-year-old leader of UAE Team Emirates previews in his post-stage 5 interview with Eurosport. "Everything will be blown up, there is no other option for each one than to play their respective tricks."

PREVIEW | Itzulia Basque Country 2024 stage 6 - Mattias Skjelmose leads race into queen stage; Schachmann, Ayuso, Del Toro, McNulty and Buitrago all dangerous rivals

With the likes of Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel crashing out in frightening scenes on Thursday, Ayuso is one of the more proven climbing talents left in the race. The Spaniard isn't UAE Team Emirates' only card to play either, with the likes of Isaac del Toro and Brandon McNulty both still lurking dangerously.

"We planned to wear down the leader and make him work, which we achieved, since Skjelmose had to start chasing," Ayuso reflects on stage 5. "We have been going at full speed all day, we have not stopped at any time, and that will be noticed."