Juan Ayuso does not like comparisons to Pogacar or Contador: "They are all better than me, so I prefer to be myself"
Cycling
UAE Team Emirates - XRG are a team stacked with all stars and Juan Ayuso is one of them. The Spanaird has started the 2025 season firing all cylinders and the truth is he is setting himself up as more of a leader within the team as never before. However he does not like the pressure that comes from unfair comparisons.
"I want to feel that pressure, but not necessarily from the team, but more for myself," Ayuso shared with In de Leiderstrui ahead of the Volta a Catalunya. "I want to perform and become the best rider possible. Every chance you get in this team you have to take, because we are the best team, with so many riders who can ride for the win". He starts as the big favourites to win the GC alongside Primoz Roglic, after winning Tirreno-Adriatico in style.
"Last year was a different year, because my first big goal in the Tour de France was not for myself, but for a teammate. I was not used to that, so this year the goal is to feel that pressure again. I like that".
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Now the 22-year old is leading the team's Giro block and with leadership being given to him, he has been performing. "Well, if Tadej is participating, you ride for him, because he is the best in the world. That's why I say: if you get the chance in this team, you have to show yourself, prove yourself and show that you are worth it, so I'm happy to have won Tirreno".
As many do in Spain, he falls victim of many comparisons, to riders of historical dimensions which often puts a lot of unnecessary weight on his shoulders. "On the one hand it's nice, because it means that they are comparing me to the best rider in the world. But on the other hand I don't like it that much, and that has nothing to do with Tadej".
"Even when they compared me in the past with Miguel Indurain or Alberto Contador, that's not something I particularly like. They are all better than me, so I prefer to be myself, win the races I have to win and lose the races I have to lose. Stop making comparisons," he concluded.
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One final tune-up for our guys before the @VoltaCatalunya 💪🏻
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) March 23, 2025
Tomorrow, we go racing from Sant Feliu de Guíxols 📍 #WeAreUAE pic.twitter.com/vtadMEH8Po
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santiagobenites26-03-2025 - I hope Wout can come back. He has had 3 terrible crashes--not on par with Froome or Bernal, but at his level just a fraction of a percent is all that separates the grand champions of this new generation. Even if he is back all the way physically, those abrupt confrontations with pavement and mortality take a psychic toll, especially for a father of young kids.
Barney26-03-2025 - Everyone was so keen on free speech for a while, what happened ;-) But seriously, the problem is not so much that he gave his view as that someone follows it and spreads it, not totally unlike the schoolkids running US war games at present ;-)Mistermaumau26-03-2025
- We'll see what happens this year, hopefully he finds himself a little stronger.awp26-03-2025
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