Juan Ayuso has recently turned 20 years of age, but is already heading into his third season as a pro rider and with very big ambitions. After making history at the Vuelta a Espana just over a month ago, he's looking towards his home Grand Tour once again.
“I want to try in the Vuelta again. In 2024 I will change but next year I want to focus on the Vuelta as my biggest objective," Ayuso told El País. “This year I finished third, why not dream of being able to win it? After finishing third, you can only think about trying to win.”
Ayuso led UAE Team Emirates alongside João Almeida at the Vuelta, and benefited from the late abandon of Primoz Roglic, and consistent performances in the mountains, to finish on the third spot. A hugely impressive result for a rider who was still 19 years old.
“From 10 days to 21 is double that number. But in the Vuelta I recovered very well and the third week was where I performed the best and where I was closest to Enric Mas and Evenepoel. That gives me a lot of confidence for next year. It’s the litmus test for Grand Tour racers," he continued.
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Ayuso is one of the most astounding promises in modern cycling, becoming the youngest ever podium finisher in the Vuelta a Espana and the youngest Grand Tour podium finisher in over 100 years. However, in the shadow of Tadej Pogacar - an equally promising rider when he was the same age, Ayuso is in an ideal scenario. “He’s the example to follow. I know I can do well in one-day races and that’s why next year I want to go to test myself at the Ardennes.”
“I’ll talk it over with the team bosses and we’ll combine my interests with the team’s to try and work out the best calendar. I’ll do more WorldTour races than this year, but of a similar type," he hinted. "Week-long stage races, Ardennes, a break, then the Vuelta," he mentioned, similarly to the calendar that Remco Evenepoel followed in 2022.
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Race routes are yet to be revealed for most main races, and so only during and after the off-season will details be adjusted. "I don’t know which week-long races will be among my objectives, but I’ll decide with the team. It’ll be a lot of racing until May, then I’ll rest up and start building for the Vuelta.”
However, the most surprising aspect of his declarations was the Spaniard admitting that he “feels old". "I was looking at the list of people turning pro and I could see some were born in 2003 or 2004 and I thought ‘Heck, I already am two years older than those guys. You’re some oldie," he joked.
However despite the humour, his statements further hint at the uprising of younger and younger riders within the top ranks. His own teammate Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel have both recently talked about their doubts regarding longevity, such as Ayuso's compatriot Alejandro Valverde reached throughout his career.
“Remco is two years older than me, too, but I’m just focused on myself. I’m at a point where rather than continuing to evolve, in 2023 I need to do something big for my palmares. Whoever it is I have to fight against - I’ll fight.”
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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