“If I want the podium I can’t falter, and I’ve already faltered twice” - Juan Ayuso self-critical after his time trial at the Tour de France
Cycling
Juan Ayuso came off clearly worse from the stage 16 individual time trial at the Tour de Francia 2026. The Spaniard never found his rhythm on the bike and lost precious time in the fight for the podium, now sitting around two and a half minutes off third place, held by his former teammate Isaac del Toro.
Despite the setback, the Lidl-Trek leader did not concede defeat. After the stage, he acknowledged the result greatly complicates his chances, but noted there are still two major mountain stages where he hopes to claw back time.
Ayuso was blunt in assessing his ride and admitted he never felt settled throughout the course. “I didn’t feel good, at my usual level, at any point in the time trial.”
He knew the stage was pivotal to stay fully in the podium fight, but accepted that a display like his is severely punished at Tour de France level. “To be on the podium you can’t make mistakes, and I’ve had two bad days. That makes it very difficult.”
With Florian Lipowitz crashing out and abandoning, Ayuso moved up to fifth overall, although the gap to Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas grew significantly.
Even at roughly two and a half minutes from third, the Lidl-Trek rider insisted opportunities remain to turn the situation around. “It’s hard to say how much the podium battle can still change.”
Juan Ayuso produced a poor time trial at the Tour de Francia 2026
The example of Vingegaard and Lipowitz’s abandons
He also underlined that the Tour still faces two very demanding high-mountain days, stages where he hopes to rediscover his best form. “There are two very hard high-mountain days left where a lot can happen.”
Ayuso also stressed that a Grand Tour is never decided until the final finish, pointing to the abandons that occurred during the time trial as a reminder.
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“Anything can happen, as we saw with the crash-induced abandons of Florian Lipowitz and Jonas Vingegaard.”
Consequently, he made it clear that his approach to the finale will be to keep attacking whenever the chance arises. “We have to stay focused and keep fighting to the end.”
Although the time trial seriously dented his prospects of finishing in the top three at the Tour de Francia 2026, Ayuso remains determined to use the final mountain stages to try to rebound and get back into the heart of the podium battle.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026
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