"He is a winner" - Joxean Matxin certain Juan Ayuso can lead UAE Team Emirates to Grand Tour glory

Although Tadej Pogacar is the undisputed leader of the UAE Team Emirates squad, there are still opportunities for the remaining stars at Grand Tours. One of those hopeful of getting leadership in 2025, will be Juan Ayuso.

One of the great hopes of Spanish cycling, Ayuso has had a few issues within UAE Team Emirates over the last year, most notably at the Tour de France where his support work was questioned and he evenutally left the race on stage 13, then being left completely out of the lineup for the Vuelta a Espana. According to team boss Joxean Matxin though, the 22-year-old retains the full faith of the UAE Team Emirates squad.

"He has already shown what he is capable of by finishing third (at the 2022 Vuelta a Espana ed.) and fighting with the best and working hard," Matxin says of Ayuso in conversation with Eurosport. "He is a rider with a lot of character, with a lot of potential, with a lot of talent and he is a winner."

With the 22-year-old Spaniard's racing programme for 2025 set to be unveiled on December 10th, all rumours are pointing towards a Giro d'Italia debut for Ayuso. Although Matxin doesn't explicitly confirm the speculation, he does reiterate his confirmation that Ayuso will have a positive season in the coming year and is a Grand Tour winner in waiting.

"I am convinced that we are going to see him triumph this year," Matxin insists, not holding too much weight in the thought that Ayuso's Tour de France drama will hold him back. "He has already been a domestique and if he has to do it again, he will have to do it again. I see him competing in a Grand Tour, I also see him helping out. He is a team rider and a rider who knows perfectly well that when you help someone, they will then help you with greater pleasure. This year he will help out and will have his sporting space."