UAE team Emirates – XRG in dreamland with both Pogacar and Ayuso in red hot form: “There's always a stage win at stake on days like these”

It seems nothing can go wrong for UAE Team Emirates – XRG as they continue to dominate the early part of the 2025 season. Juan Ayuso added another major victory to the team’s tally, winning Stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico to move into the overall race lead. The Spanish talent once again proved his growing maturity and race intelligence, a trait that team manager Fabrizio Guidi highlighted in his post-race reflections.

"Juan is a rider who grows every year, and this year he is really starting to pay attention to his teammates, to the staff, and he sees the bigger picture," Guidi told In de Leiderstrui after the stage. "The head is just as important as the body, you don't always just ride away and win solo. If he is much stronger than the rest, then we are not going to stop him from attacking. But sometimes you have to be patient, like Friday's stage."

The way UAE Team Emirates – XRG controlled the race was a testament to their tactical intelligence. Rather than dictating the pace all day, they allowed Tom Pidcock Q36.5 Team and Jai Hindley’s BORA - hansgrohe team to take responsibility for much of the work, only taking over when it mattered most.

"For us, it was important to take the leader's jersey," Guidi explained. "I was not surprised that other teams were also thinking about the bonus seconds and the stage win. We only had to drop Filippo Ganna, not necessarily the others. That is why we waited for other teams."

Ayuso himself had already made his intentions clear before the stage, speaking with In de Leiderstrui about his aggressive mindset.

"If I have the legs, I'll gladly try. There's always a stage win at stake on days like these. You have to be intelligent and know your differences to others, so sometimes you have to play it smart. But if you've secured a classification, you can always go on the offensive. Attack is the best defense, right?"

His confidence and race awareness have been key to his continued development, and his approach reflects the broader philosophy within UAE Team Emirates – XRG. The team thrives on giving its leaders the freedom to make decisions in the heat of battle, trusting their instincts while providing them with all the necessary tactical insight.

"As a team, you always have to rely on the feeling of the riders, we will never push someone or slow someone down," Guidi emphasized. "We have to give them all the information about the race and what the others are doing. Then it is up to the rider and his legs—he is on the bike and feels the competition."