Juan Ayuso proud of UAE Team Emirates' showing at Galibier: "It means a lot to me to be part of the best team in the world"

UAE Emirates impressed in the first mountain stage of the Tour de France. Tadej Pogacar's team thinned out the group of favourites on the climb towards the highest point on this year's route - the Col du Galibier, with the leader himself taking off just before the summit.

In particular, it were Joao Almeida and Juan Ayuso who hammered the later parts of the climb. And it was the 21-year-old Ayuso who topped the day off with a third place on the day, coming second in the sprint of a group behind solo winner Pogacar.

Joxean Matxin shrugs off Almeida-Ayuso 'drama' on the Col du Galibier: "Almeida and Ayuso decided to make shorter relays between them"

"I think Joao and I did a great job and worked together very well. I couldn’t have been happier," said the Spanish debutant to Eurosport. "It means a lot to me to be part of the best team in the world, to work and to stay with the best. I’m also very happy for Tadej. He wins the stage, and by a big margin."

Ayuso thus moves up to 4th overall, 1:10 behind Pogacar, but only 20 seconds short of Jonas Vingegaard. Perhaps an opportunity to play the numbers game in future stages? We have to wait and see what can UAE Team Emirates do with their collective strength.