“Taking the red is the ambition” - Juan Ayuso wants Vuelta success

After finishing in 3rd place at his first-ever Grand Tour at last year's Vuelta a Espana, 20-year-old Juan Ayuso is ready to go even better in 2023, with his main ambition for the season taking home the famed red jersey. "The team will support me to achieve that, even though I know it will be difficult."

UAE Team Emirates have shown their ability to win three-week stage races at the Tour de France with Tadej Pogacar's success, this is something Ayuso is hoping to build on for his own benefit. "Taking the red would be a very big step compared to 2022, but it is the ambition. I'm going for the win anyway, even if that may not turn out to be possible in the end. At the moment I am fully focused on the Vuelta, I am not thinking about the Tour.”

Following on from his breakthrough Vuelta, Ayuso has seen the attention given to him back in his homeland skyrocket. "After my podium finish in the Vuelta, people ask a lot of me. But I have no problem with that. It makes me proud to be a bit of the hope of Spanish cycling." Ayuso says. "People want me to succeed and do well. It does give a bit of pressure when people look at you like that, but the support of the people at the same time creates a magical feeling.”