“No one’s going to win the Giro tomorrow but some riders could lose it" - Juan Ayuso on alert ahead of 'mini Strade Bianche' stage 9

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.

“No one’s going to win the Giro tomorrow,” Ayuso said, “but some riders could lose it. It’s the kind of day where anything can happen — punctures, mechanicals, crashes. You need luck on your side.”

Reflecting briefly on Stage 8, he added: “One second is better than nothing. It was an incredibly tough day. I just hope I can recover well, because tomorrow could be decisive. Our goal is to make it to the finish in the front group.”

Despite the challenges ahead, Ayuso remains confident in his squad: “We have the strongest team in the race, and I’m really happy to have these teammates around me,” said the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader.