Matxín pleased with Juan Ayuso's improvement over the winter: "We try to convey our full confidence in him"

Juan Ayuso took off in 2025 with a stylish GC victory at the Tirreno-Adriatico. In the highly competitive environment of UAE Team Emirates - XRG, it's important to deliver results like these if the 22-year-old hopes to have his own chances later into the year.

In an interview with AS after the race, Ayuso declared that he may have taken another three or four steps in his development past winter. "Well, I don't know if it's three or four steps," Joxean Matxín is a bit more down-to-earth in an interview with Relevo.

Read also

PREVIEW | Milano-Sanremo 2025 - Will Tadej Pogacar finally win monument number 4?

"When you're already at 90 percent, it's hard to take three or four leaps," the manager points out. But with the same breath, he adds that with Ayuso's current quality, it doesn't take massive leaps to improve noticeably. "What's clear is that, with his character, talent, and quality, when you improve, even by one percent, the leap in quality is evident, as it has been."

"I think he's improved in many ways, especially in personal growth, professional growth, and adapting to perhaps much more specific training, even for someone who is so well-rounded. Also strength, the gym, strengthening his body... I think we've found that key, or at least he has in terms of his professionalism and, above all, his unwavering commitment to work."

A testament to the top-notch work of personal coach Íñigo San Millán: "Spectacular, as always. I have no complaints, but only praise."

Can we expect to see even more growth from Ayuso this year? "If we're talking about a 22-year-old rider, his progression is more than evident due to the years he's accumulated in all aspects of growth, especially physiologically. I think he's very professional; he demands a lot from himself. We try to convey our full confidence in him, determined to achieve goals, causes, and reasons to be better every day."

Read also

"In the absence of Tadej Pogacar, they lacked the clarity and quality needed to beat Visma" - Philippa York questions UAE's Paris-Nice struggles

"Jonas Vingegaard was trying to hide, as usual" - Philippe Gilbert blasts Visma leader after Paris-Nice

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate cycling experience—subscribe today for access to the latest cycling news

Subscribe