"Sometimes these gestures are unnecessary" - Juan Ayuso comments on João Almeida's complaints on Col du Galibier

On the Col du Galibier UAE Team Emirates set the race on fire and this included work from all riders. On the most difficult slopes of the climb it was João Almeida and Juan Ayuso who did the bulk of the work but at a moment the Portuguese gestured for his teammate to go work. Ayuso tells that this was unnecessary at the time.

“Within the team things are calm, there are no problems. It is true that sometimes these gestures are unnecessary and yesterday they were unnecessary, but well, it is what it is," Ayuso said in an interview with Diario AS. As Almeida spent large minutes in the front of the group; he, Ayuso and Adam Yates took turns in the front of the group so as to not burn one of them as there are GC aspirations all round across the team - although the main focus is, of course, on Tadej Pogacar.

“For one reason or another, I had never climbed it. It was something special and I hope to be able to continue like this," Ayuso, in rising form after a difficult first day in the race, continued. "The plan was that, to prepare the ground a little for Tadej and that, when he attacked, the rivals were almost at the limit. Thanks to this he was able to make a difference and reach the finish line alone."

Ayuso himself survived in the chasing group and arrived at the finish line well positioned. As of the start of stage 6 he is fourth in the overall classification, 1:10 minutes down on Pogacar. "I knew I could be there, but for me it was also a bit of a surprise to continue to be only five or six in the group. The wind was blowing hard in our faces and it was better to take turns to recover. Seeing the damage we did, it gives us confidence."

Ideally for UAE Pogacar would be able to cement the overall classification victory and Ayuso also dreams of a stage win in his first Tour. "These are big words. It is a dream and an objective that I also set for myself," he concluded.