"We had to suffer a bit, even on the wheels" - Juan Ayuso about a hard 'transition' stage to Íscar

On a day that was expected to be 'a calm before the storm' days for GC riders, the tightly awaited rest didn't come as the nineteenth stage was ridden in a fast pace that didn't allow riders like Juan Ayuso to rest up.

"It was a bit too fast! We had to suffer a bit, even on the wheels we had to push really hard to keep up with the pace. And also, being stage 19, the legs hurt even if you ride easy. It was a hard day, a very fast one," Ayuso told organisers after the stage.

"I’m glad I avoided the crash and arrived home safely. I think many of us thought we would recover a bit more today but in the end it turned out to be a demanding day because the pace was super high all day. It was not the best to recover but it’s the same for everybody. Tomorrow is gonna be the last big push of the season and I hope it goes well, and maybe we can go for the stage win."