Juan Ayuso plays down importance of Tirreno-Adriatico: "I wouldn't call Tirreno-Adriatico a test for the Giro”
Cycling
There’s no doubt about it, 2025 is a crucial year for Juan
Ayuso. One of the most exciting young talents in the peloton, the UAE Team
Emirates – XRG rider endured a challenging 2024 season but has started the new
year in strong fashion as he builds towards his main goal of the Giro d’Italia
in May.
This week, Ayuso takes on Tirreno-Adriatico, one of his key
early-season targets, and ahead of the race, he spoke to Wielerflits about his
ambitions.
"Tirreno-Adriatico is a big goal for me, since the
beginning of the season," he explains. "I went to altitude
specifically for that and I was able to train well. I would be lying if I said
I didn’t want to win Tirreno, but it’s always difficult. It remains a WorldTour
stage race where the level will be high, but the goal is definitely to take the
overall victory."
Although Tirreno-Adriatico is an important race, Ayuso does
not see it as a direct test for the Giro. Instead, he believes that will come
later in the Volta a Catalunya, where he will face riders such as Jonas
Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic, two of the strongest general classification
riders in the world.
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"I wouldn't call Tirreno-Adriatico a test for the
Giro," he says. "It's a good preparation race, that's for sure. In
the Tour of Catalonia I'll be racing against riders like Jonas Vingegaard and
Primož Roglič. That's a good test to see where I stand for the Giro."
"They are really among the best riders in the world. I
love racing against them. That's where you learn the most and in those races
you can make the biggest steps. And if you can beat guys like Vingegaard and
Roglič, those are victories that count for a lot. I'm really looking forward to
that."
The young Spaniard is confident that his hard work over the
winter has helped him improve, but he remains aware that race performance is
the true measure of progress.
"In training I really feel like I’ve made a lot of
progress, but in competitions it’s always different. But I feel like I’ve
really gotten better this winter."
With the Giro d’Italia on the horizon, Ayuso remains focused
on gradual improvement, understanding that winning a Grand Tour requires
patience and consistency.
"You always dream of winning the final. That is a
dream, but I want to take it step by step. I want to see how far I can get.
That is the best possible result, but we have to take it day by day in the
Giro."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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