"I knew I had to wait until the end" - Juan Ayuso on how he beat Primoz Roglic at his own game in Catalunya
Cycling
The new leader of the general classification of the Volta a Catalunya 2025 is Juan Ayuso. Today's triumph was already his fifth in the 2025 season and it took him straight into the race lead after he outsprinted none other than Primoz Roglic uphill.
The UAE Team Emirates leader beat Primoz Roglic by photo-finish at the finish of the final climb to La Molina. With this victory, the Spaniard the Slovenian 6 seconds away in the overall classification.
Marc Soler from UAE was very active on the final climb, putting on pressure for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. But Ayuso knew that for the main riders it would come down to a sprint, and he didn't risk burning matches early on. Things would come back in the final 500 meters of the climb as Giulio Pellizari, Esteban Chaves and Felix Gall each took turns in the head of the peloton ahead of the steep ramp to the finish line.
He explains the strategy that he and the team followed: "I knew that in La Molina these circumstances could occur. That's why I didn't want to move. I knew I had to wait until the end. It was very important to win. Although the final goal is the overall classification, in this race taking the stages is very important because of the bonus seconds. In recent years, the Volta has been decided by a few seconds, so that's why it was crucial".
With an impressive sprint, he managed to overtake Roglic in what is his own favoured terrain, and hold off the gap in what was a thrilling photo-finish.
"There is no extra pressure. This year we have Marc Soler with the number 1 on the jersey, I hope that next year we will also be here with the same number," he concluded.
Read also
😮Quin final a @SnowLaMolina!
— Volta a Catalunya (@VoltaCatalunya) March 26, 2025
🔥 ¡@juann_ayuso ha podido con @rogla en #LaMolina!
🏆Juan Ayuso @TeamEmiratesUAE takes the win and is the new leader!#VoltaCatalunya104 pic.twitter.com/y9VF1nVPm2
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.
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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)...
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