"Juan Ayuso is proving that he is very strong" - Compatriot sees UAE rider as man to beat at Tirreno-Adriatico

Ion Izagirre is not finding the best sensations in this beginning of 2025, although he assures that he hopes to be fighting with the best in the decisive stages of Tirreno Adriatico 2025. Before the fourth stage, he explained what he expects from a day marked by bad weather, and that his compatriot Juan Ayuso is in his eyes the strongest in the race.

This is what he commented on the Eurosport microphones in statements uploaded by the Youtube channel Cycling Pro Net:

"I don't know if it favors me, but well, these are demanding stages. Especially these two days with the weather, which always hurt the body, today is also expected to be a big battle with a fairly long port at the start, let's hope to try, to see if the body helps." The Cofidis rider finished in the peloton on the explosive third stage and is currently within a shot of a good GC result.

He insisted that the cold weather could end up being decisive for today's stage: "We'll have to see how the race goes, how the stage is set up, if a breakaway of only two riders is set up it will be easier for the sprinters' teams. The first part is quite hard, the finish is easier for the peloton but with these days of rain and cold you never know."

On the favorites, although he names Adam Yates, Pello Bilbao and Mikel Landa, he makes it clear that he sees Juan Ayuso as the strongest:

"A team like UAE with Ayuso and Yates, especially Ayuso who is proving that he is very strong and then the usual people like Pello or Landa. I'm still there, trying to recover my sensations, there are 3 hard stages left and we hope to be as far ahead as possible".