Juan Ayuso heads into Volta a Catalunya finale ready for battle with Roglic: “Now the goal is tomorrow, and I hope to keep this jersey"

Juan Ayuso is just one stage away from securing overall victory at the 2025 Volta a Catalunya, but Primoz Roglic is only one second behind. The final day promises tension, tactics, and potential heartbreak, with Ayuso clinging to a slender lead after a dramatic and disrupted queen stage on Saturday.

What was meant to be the decisive mountain stage turned into a tactical stalemate after extreme wind conditions forced organisers to cut the route short and remove all major climbs. The revised 146-kilometre course lacked the elevation expected to create significant gaps, and as a result, the expected fireworks never materialised between the GC contenders.

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"It was a super confusing day," Ayuso told Cyclism’Actu after the stage. "I think the organizers did a really good job adapting to the situation, because initially the finish was supposed to be at the top. In the end, they managed to get everything back down, including the spectators. They really managed to organize it very quickly."

Despite the logistical success, the day was far from straightforward for the riders. “They made the best decision by neutralizing a lap to make sure the circuit was safe before restarting the race. But halfway through, some riders started saying they just wanted to restart the race immediately. In the end, that's the decision that was made.”

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The 21-year-old added that the chaos came not from conflict, but communication. “There was no disagreement, just confusion. When you talk to one person, then have to repeat the same thing to another, and suddenly everything changes, you have to repeat and adapt again. With so many people involved, it's always complicated to be on the same page and keep everyone well informed.”

Now all eyes turn to the final stage, with Ayuso aiming to keep the jersey against one of the most experienced and successful stage racers of the last decade. Roglic, the 2023 Giro d’Italia and 2024 Vuelta a Espana champion, is known for his ability to time attacks to perfection, and with just one second separating the two, any bonus seconds could prove decisive.

Ayuso remains focused: “Now the goal is tomorrow, and I hope to keep this jersey.”

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