"When I started watching cycling it was Contador trying to win the Tour" - Ayuso dreams of emulating his idol and claiming victory in France

Spain's next great Grand Tour hope Juan Ayuso, has revealed, perhaps unsurprisingly, that his idol growing up was Alberto Contador. His big dream in the sport is to emulate his hero and ride the Yellow Jersey around the streets of Paris after winning the Tour de France.

"When I started watching cycling it was Contador trying to win the Tour," Ayuso revealed in an interview with Rouleur. "For me, it’s this one race I want to win." The UAE Team Emirates rider burst onto the scene at the 2022 Vuelta a Espana. Eventually finishing third in the first three-week stage race of his career.

Despite already having one Grand Tour podium under his belt, Ayuso is under no illusions that he's not currently close to Tour de France winning level. “I have to keep progressing because with my level now I’m not [yet] able to win the Tour. I have to be realistic," the 20-year-old says. "What I have to do is learn and then keep improving to try and one day be at the Tour to try to win.”

Looking back on his maiden Vuelta, Ayuso is still full of pride at having achieved the success he did. "I wouldn’t say that I wasn’t expecting it because I knew when I started the race I was in very good form,” he reflects. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do it, but I was sure that I was going to be in the fight for the podium.”