"We take into account the health of the cyclist" - Matxin defends UAE's decision to keep Juan Ayuso in Vuelta a Espana
Cycling
Juan Ayuso has tested positive for Covid-19, but has not abandoned the Vuelta a Espana. Controversy has emerged from other riders who were forced to abandon the race criticizing the decision, and the lack of clarity from the methods and exams carried out that allowed the 19-year old to stay in the race that other teams didn't have access to.
“First of all, we take into account the health of the cyclist, then the health of the peloton and finally the established rules," UAE's coach Joxean Matxin told reporters regarding the situation. "Our doctor is in contact with the race doctor and I am in contact with Javier Guillén, both have agreed to let Ayuso start today.”
The team has affirmed that Ayuso had "a very low risk of infectivity" and was kept in the race where he currently sits in fifth place overall after 12 stages. His strong performances over this week indicate his feelings remain high, however other riders did not have the means to defend themselves and prove they would prove to be a low risk to the race - such as Manuel Peñalver of Burgos-BH, amongst the several who left the race without symptoms of Covid-19.
"If Ayuso had had the same red numbers as Laengen, Bennett or Almeida in the Giro, there would have been no discussion now," Matxin argued however. It is not known if the team will however continue carrying tests on the Spaniard and his safety to teammates and the rest of the peloton.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Juan Ayuso tests positive for Covid-19, will continue in #LaVuelta22 .
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