OPINION: Juan Ayuso faces a pivotal 2025 season at UAE Team Emirates – XRG and must take Giro d’Italia opportunity

Juan Ayuso has long been regarded as one of the most naturally talented climbers in the professional peloton. There’s no denying that at just 22 years old, the Spanish rider has already achieved remarkable results, demonstrating both his immense talent and his potential to become a Grand Tour champion in the future. However, as he enters the 2025 season, it feels like Ayuso finds himself at a crossroads.

We recently wrote an article looking at the talent of Ayuso’s teammate Joao Almeida, and discussed the headache he will have to endure as Tadej Pogacar’s teammate. In this article, we’ll show that the same goes for Ayuso.

Since signing with UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Ayuso has been seen as one of the team’s future leaders. But Tadej Pogacar is currently the undisputed number 1 rider in the sport and is showing no signs of slowing down, and Ayuso, much like Joao Almeida, faces the challenge of carving out a role for himself within the squad.

Will he be able to shine in a team that revolves around Pogacar? Or will he eventually need to look elsewhere to fulfil his ambitions?

Ayuso’s rapid rise through the ranks has already been superbly impressive. In 2022, at just 19 years old, he finished third at the Vuelta a Espana, making him the second-youngest rider in history to podium at a Grand Tour. This was an unexpected achievement given most riders at that age are still developing in the U23 category, not competing with the world’s best stage racers. Even at such a young age, Ayuso showcased his ability to climb with the elite, keeping pace with Remco Evenepoel and Enric Mas throughout the race.

In 2023, he backed up that performance with another strong showing at La Vuelta, finishing fourth overall and winning the young rider classification. These performances, along with his aggressive riding style and raw talent, led to comparisons with some of the greatest climbers in modern cycling. According to an analysis by Lanterne Rouge, Ayuso might statistically be the greatest teenage climber in history, outperforming past greats like Egan Bernal and Andy Schleck in key climbing metrics.

2024 was a year of mixed fortunes for Ayuso, which is rare when talking about a UAE rider in 2024. He started the season in fine form, winning the Tour of the Basque Country after avoiding the catastrophic crash that took out Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and Primoz Roglic. He also claimed victory at the Ardèche Classic and finished second at Tirreno-Adriatico, confirming his status as one of the best young stage racers in the world.

However, his fortunes changed at the Tour de France where he was debuting in the race. While UAE Team Emirates dominated the race (Pogacar won six stages and the overall title, Almeida finished fourth, and Adam Yates came sixth) Ayuso’s experience at the Tour was far from ideal. In fact, the Spaniards brief Tour campaign was perhaps the only blemish on an otherwise perfect 3 weeks for UAE.

Midway through the race, he tested positive for COVID-19 and had to withdraw from the peloton, but the biggest controversy came on the Col du Galibier. Ayuso and Almeida were seen riding in a disjointed manner, with visible frustration between them as the Portuguese rider appeared to be arguing that Ayuso was not doing enough to support Pogacar.

The incident led to speculation of internal conflicts, but UAE Team Emirates’ manager, Joxean Matxin, dismissed the drama, stating that Ayuso and Almeida had simply decided to take shorter relays between them. Still, the footage and discussions surrounding the event painted a picture of a rider struggling to find his place within the team dynamic, regardless of what Matxin says.

And, if you recall one of the large talking points of last summer, the drama wasn’t finished there!

After the Tour de France, tensions between Ayuso and the team appeared to worsen. When UAE Team Emirates announced their squad for La Vuelta, Ayuso was notably absent, despite being one of Spain’s top riders. Officially, the team claimed that he was not fit enough to compete, however, Spanish national coach Pascual Momparler contradicted this, stating that Ayuso had told him he was in perfect condition and ready to race.

This omission led to widespread speculation that there were deeper issues between Ayuso and UAE Team Emirates. Was he being sidelined due to his Tour de France struggles? Was there friction between him and the team’s leadership? Or was it simply a precautionary move by UAE to protect one of their most valuable young assets?

Regardless of the reason, being left out of La Vuelta was a clear setback for Ayuso. Missing out on his home Grand Tour meant losing a significant opportunity to prove himself as a leader, and you would have imagined he would have been in podium contention at that race which was won by Roglic.

Even without Pogacar in the lineup, UAE Team Emirates is packed with elite talent. Almeida, Yates, and Ayuso are all capable of leading a team at a Grand Tour, but with Pogacar at the helm, opportunities for leadership are scarce.

It’s a brilliant ‘problem’ to have if you’re a team boss, but not for Ayuso in the long term. Whilst Yates and Almeida have always been compliant with what is expected of them, you always get the sense that Ayuso is desperate to be the main man.

Despite the uncertainty, Ayuso has a golden opportunity in 2025: the Giro d’Italia. With Pogacar set to focus on the Tour de France and La Vuelta, UAE has announced that Ayuso and Adam Yates will co-lead the team at the Giro. This presents a massive chance for Ayuso to prove himself as a Grand Tour leader.

The Giro will be a true test, as the field is expected to be incredibly strong compared to recent years. Primoz Roglic, Richard Carapaz, and the Yates brothers will all be in attendance, along with Wout van Aert, who will be aiming to make an impact in his debut in Italy.

If Ayuso can secure a podium finish amongst these proven winners, or even challenge for the overall win, it would be a defining moment in his career.

There is no question that Ayuso is one of the brightest young talents in cycling. His climbing ability, stage racing instincts, and aggressive riding style make him an exciting prospect, and on top of that he is still just 22!

However, his long-term future at UAE Team Emirates feels like it hang on a knife edge as the first wheels turn in 2025.

If Ayuso thrives at the Giro, it could pave the way for more leadership opportunities within the world’s number 1 team. But if he struggles (or if internal tensions persist) he may start to consider other options. Many teams would welcome him as a clear Grand Tour leader (INEOS we’re looking at you) giving him the freedom to build a team around his strengths rather than being a secondary option to Pogacar.

Because that’s all he’s likely to be in a team with Pogacar. As good as Ayuso is, and can be, Pogacar might just be the greatest ever.

Ultimately, the 2025 season will be crucial in determining Ayuso’s trajectory. If he delivers at the Giro, he will solidify his position as one of cycling’s future stars. If not, the questions surrounding his role within UAE will only grow louder.