"Happy to have a good feeling" - Juan Ayuso eyes La Vuelta with confidence after 2nd in Getxo
Cycling
Juan Ayuso crossed the line second
at the 80th Circuito de Getxo-Memorial Hermanos Otxoa, just behind UAE Team
Emirates – XRG teammate Isaac del Toro, in a confidence-boosting result ahead
of the Vuelta a España. The Spanish rider helped shape the finale on the
brutally steep Pike climb, where he and Del Toro made their winning move. It
was a strong rebound for Ayuso, especially coming off a rough day at the
Clásica San Sebastián just 24 hours earlier, where he was dropped early and
never found his rhythm. Though a win eluded him, Ayuso looked relieved to be
back in the mix.
"Happy to be able to help the
team and kick off the race on the Pike, a very tough 2km section with gradients
of up to 20 percent," Ayuso told Eurosport, referring to the climb where
the pair launched their decisive attack. "And also happy to finish second
behind Isaac," he added, showing a bond with his Mexican teammate that
hasn’t always been there this summer.
The young Spaniard had originally
been expected to take center stage at the Giro d’Italia in May, but a string of
crashes, and even a bee sting to the eye, forced him out in the third week.
Since then, he’s been rebuilding toward a new goal: leading his home Grand
Tour. With Tadej Pogacar sitting out the Vuelta, Ayuso now shares leadership
duties with Joao Almeida at UAE.
"Now we have the Vuelta, to
be able to return after a rather long break following the crash at the Giro and
so on," he said. After a stop-start season, Ayuso is just glad to be back
on track after a difficult period. He wrapped up his weekend saying he was
"happy to have a good feeling," and made clear his focus: "make
it to the Vuelta in good shape."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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