UAE Team Emirates have now completed the Tour de France with two riders on the podium and several stage wins. Now however it is time to focus on other goals, and the team announced today where Juan Ayuso and João Almeida - it's leaders for the Vuelta a Espana - will race.
The press release was issued before Ayuso's crash at the Prueba Villafranca however the Spaniard seems to be apt to race taking into consideration the fall, he's been cleared of any meaningful injury. He will surely be the team leader in the Basque Country this weekend and a big favourite for the victory if he finds his best legs. The likes of Villafranca winner Marc Hirschi and Diego Ulissi will in the meantime be outsiders.
“I’ve had a nice training block in Andorra in the build up with my teammates and it’s been a good period both on and off the bike," Ayuso said in the press release. "We have some big goals for this last part of the season and I’m excited to get things started again in San Sebastian. It’s a hard, explosive race but I think we have strong cards to play.”
UAE Team Emirates for Clásica San Sebastián: Juan Ayuso, Sjoerd Bax, George Bennett, Alessandro Covi, Marc Hirschi, Domen Novak and Diego Ulissi.
Meanwhile João Almeida will race the Tour de Pologne. The 2021 winner will also be one of the main contenders but on this stage-race the team takes a stronger lineup including Brandon McNulty, Rafal Majka, Tim Wellens and also Pascal Ackermann who will chase the sprints.
UAE Team Emirates for Tour de Pologne: Pascal Ackermann, João Almeida, Finn Fisher-Black, Davide Formolo, Rafal Majka, Brandon McNulty and Tim Wellens.
😅🤦🏻♂️
Update: @juann_ayuso who had been in a leading duo with Lazkano slid in the final corner and crashed on the rain-soaked tarmac. He was able to remount and hang on for 3rd place and thankfully did not suffer any serious injury, escaping with a bruised left knee and some abrasions.
