"I'm going to try to compete with Evenepoel, Roglic and Vingegaard" - Juan Ayuso prepares for second week at the Vuelta a Espana

Whilst most of the talk at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana to date has been about Remco Evenepoel and Jumbo-Visma trio Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss, UAE Team Emirates' Juan Ayuso has been quietly going about his business.

Now, with the second week poised to begin, the Spaniard is ready to mount a true Red Jersey challenge. "I think I have improved a lot compared to last year," In de Leiderstrui quotes him as saying in a rest-day press conference ahead of a potentially decisive time-trial on Tuesday. "I start with a lot of confidence, even though Evenepoel is the big favourite. I'm going to try to compete with him, Roglic and Vingegaard. The goal is to be close to their times so that I don't have to make up time in the mountains. Because that is extremely difficult."

A podium finisher last year at La Vuelta in his debut Grand Tour, Ayuso believes his level this year is much improved. "Last year the Vuelta was tougher in the first week, perhaps also because it was my first big tour. It was easier now, although the toughest part of the race was still to come," he says. "We get a lot of days that you could call the queen stage, where it gets really tough. It's my second big tour, so I'm learning to deal with everything a little better. I feel better every day, while last year it was a challenge every day."

"I can say here that I will get even better this Vuelta, but I can only hope so. In such a big tour things always don't go as planned, so maybe I'll break in the third week," the 20-year-old previews.

Although Jumbo-Visma have been the dominant force as far as the teams go, UAE Team Emirates cannot be underestimated with Marc Soler, Joao Almeida and Ayuso in the top 10. "Soler is a very good option for us towards the last week," says Ayuso. "I hope Marc can ride a good time trial on Tuesday, so that we keep three men high in the standings. In the harder stages they will normally pay more attention to me and Almeida, so we can play with a Soler that is in good shape. You put other teams under pressure that way."