"It would be great if Almeida could win" - Juan Ayuso committing to domestique role at La Vuelta?
Cycling
Juan Ayuso has won a stage at this Vuelta a Espana and he has said that after the confirmed news of his departure, that he can focus exclusively on the race once again. This Tuesday he was riding in support of João Almeida, and he talks well of the Portuguese rider whom he hopes to support into an overall victory.
Ayuso started off the stage with harsh words against the UAE management for the conflicting positions both stood in. On social media however there were countless questions regarding his continuation in the race.
"No, never. That's a discussion that's come through the media," Ayuso said in words to Eurosport after stage 10 of the Vuelta. "The other day I wasn't feeling well and when you don't feel well you can't really help."
The 22-year old has made it clear that he would not be leaving the race voluntarily. With a stage win in the bag and Jay Vine in the lead of the KOM classification, there will be no pressure from the team for him to be searching for more individual success, although this may happen sooner or later. Through breakaways he could also potentially become an important piece for UAE.
Domestique for João Almeida
But on the climb to Larra-Belagua, he spent a few minutes in the head of the peloton, putting in a stint to prepare an attack from João Almeida. “Without a doubt, I was going much better than I was the stage before the rest day".
"João was feeling good, he was asking me to push, and I did. I rode until we caught up to Mikkel Bjerg. We rode well as a team and I think it went pretty well for us," he added, stating also that he wishes the team to win the Vuelta and that he will want to play a role in that.
“It would be great if Almeida could win. With Tadej’s Tour I had to pull out and I couldn’t celebrate in Paris, so it would be nice to do that in Madrid," Ayuso concluded.
Ayuso and Almeida. @Imago
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.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
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)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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