After his thrilling Stage 7 victory in the 2025 Giro d’Italia,
Juan Ayuso continues to chip away at
Primoz Roglic’s lead in the general classification. The young Spaniard gained another second on the Slovenian during Stage 8, reducing the gap to just three seconds. However, Ayuso slipped two spots in the overall standings after Italians Diego Ulissi and Lorenzo Fortunato — both riding from the XDS Astana Team — capitalized on the day’s breakaway to move into first and second place respectively.
Despite that setback, Ayuso remains just 20 seconds off the Maglia Rosa and firmly in contention heading into the second week. Speaking after the stage, Ayuso chose to focus not on what had just happened, but on what’s coming next: Stage 9 — the so-called “mini Strade Bianche.” With its unpaved white roads and unpredictable terrain, it promises to be one of the most pivotal days of the race.