Juan Ayuso reveals he wanted UAE's Giro d'Italia leadership in 2024 before Tadej Pogacar swooped in: "My team decided I should do the Tour and there wasn't much to discuss"

In 2025, UAE Team Emirates - XRG are backing two horses at the Giro d'Italia as Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates combine to form a two-pronged Maglia Rosa attack. This marks a stark difference from the team's tactics last year, where Tadej Pogacar completed the first leg of his Giro d'Italia - Tour de France double. Had Ayuso gotten his way however, it may have been the Spaniard himself who led UAE in 2024.

"Racing the Giro was an idea I already had last year," Ayuso reveals in conversation with La Gazzetta dello Sport, ahead of him finally getting a chance at the Maglia Rosa at the 2025 edition, kicking off in Albania later this week. As we already know, Ayuso's hopes for Giro leadership last year never materialised. "My team decided I should do the Tour, and there wasn't much to discuss about that," he explains.

If anything though, all that has done, is make Ayuso even more determined to prove his qualities at the Italian Grand Tour on his delayed debut. "Now that I've done the Tour and the Vuelta twice, the Giro was an even bigger goal for me," says the 22-year-old determinedly. "I wanted to do it, and even before I knew the exact 2025 route, I had this in mind."

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Given that Pogacar was so dominant last year though, there are big shoes to fill for the Spaniard. Ayuso is insistent however, that it isn't win or bust for him at the Giro this year. "No. But at the same time, I'm not saying that I would be happy with a podium, either," he clarifies. "It would be a disappointment not to finish in the top three, because I would consider that a step backwards."

"It's a beautiful route and one that suits me. I'm also convinced that I've got the strongest teammates," Ayuso concludes with confidence.