"The leader is Juan Ayuso, no doubt" - Alberto Contador insists Adam Yates must sacrifice himself for UAE teammate at the Giro d'Italia

With Tadej Pogacar not returning to defend his Maglia Rosa in 2025, UAE Team Emirates - XRG head to the Giro d'Italia with what is, on paper at least, a two-pronged general classification attack of Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates. According to the Spanish former Giro winner Alberto Contador however, it's solely his compatriot that the team should be working for.

"Ayuso has won everything he's raced this year, except for the first race, where he made a mistake on a roundabout. That’s the reality," analyses Contador for Eurosport, during the Spanish broadcaster's coverage of stage 1 at the 2025 Volta a Catalunya. "Ayuso has earned it. We saw in Milano-Torino how Adam Yates sacrificed himself for Isaac del Toro. I believe that with the results backing up Juan Ayuso, he has fully deserved it. The only thing is that if the first crucial day comes and he falters, then UAE will obviously adjust and go with another leader."

With wins at Tirreno-Adriatico and Trofeo Laigueglia on Italian roads already this year, Ayuso has indeed started the 2025 campaign in electric form. Because of this, Contador is confident that any idea of dual leadership for UAE Team Emirates - XRG at the Giro d'Italia will be over barring any further incidents. "The leader is Ayuso, no doubt," stresses the Spaniard firmly. "However, depending on race conditions, weather, or illness, you can’t put everything on one card."

Despite Ayuso's strong early season form, the looming figure of Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader and 2023 Giro d'Italia champion Primoz Roglic poses a very considerable challenge for the Spanish star. According to Contador though, even the legendary Roglic may have trouble dealing with Ayuso in current form. "Given how he's riding, I wouldn’t dare put him behind Roglic," Contador concludes his rave review of his younger compatriot.