This is what a 19-year-old who finishes third in the Vuelta looks like. Ayuso sits in front with confidence written all over his face.Mind you, we're not talking about arrogance, but about calm and awareness. Wherever this road takes him, he is certain he has the right shoes to take his steps.. And from what we've seen following him over the last two years, he might be right.
«Talent must be demonstrated. – he says – now comparisons are being made between me and Tadej (Pogacar, ed.) because he too was third in the Vuelta in his first year. But I don't think about it. I can say, however, on the eve of another season, that the next logical step would be to improve that resultIt doesn't mean I'll win the Vuelta, but I'll certainly work to do my best."
Spanish Hope
One afternoon, as the sun sets on the hills behind Benidorm, the skyscrapers piercing the mist look like the not-necessarily-fairytale kingdom of a Tolkien novel. Ayuso arouses curiosity. In Spanish cycling which has just said goodbye to Valverdand after having to give up Contador, Purito Rodriguez, Sastre, Freire and Samuel Sanchez, his star is already inflaming the fans.
"The Return – he says – he showed me to the Spanish public, but objectively no one expected itI had a lot of ups and downs in those days, due to Covid. I was strange, but the tests were negative at first. Two days after the time trial, during a tough stage, the positive swab came out. For the team, going ahead anyway was quite stressful, but then I went back to my condition and I climbed the rankings."
American efficiency
He speaks excellent English, memories of the American school he attended and the time spent in Atlanta, when his father was transferred to the USA for work.
«But of that period – he says smiling – I have few memories. Just flashes. The house. The garden. The dog chasing me.My sister is four years older than me and remembers better. But I've kept my American mentality. I like things that work and to be an athlete everything has to go perfectly."
Where do you want to go?
I am a very ambitious rider and as such I dream of winning the TourI saw it when I was 17 when Contador won. Now I'm too young to think about it, but I think that at 24-25 years old I will have understood how the race works and maybe I will be able to think about winning itI have to be realistic, I know where I belong. Tadej is the best, I can and must improve behind him..
Don't you think you're putting too much pressure on yourself?
More than pressure, I'd talk about motivation. It's clear that I won't be able to win all the races I go to, but we are in a phase of changeThe new generation is arriving, the public wants to see us win. I loved hearing people calling my name, writing to me on Instagram, neighbors recognizing me. I want to start off well. Get a good start for Valencia, then Catalunya and Basque Country will be the protagonists.
Where do you think you need to improve?
Flat time trials are an exercise for specialists, but I enjoyed the Vuelta. I have to improve on the stages with steep slopes, but for example at Les Praeres I did well. I'm training to improve on certain ramps. The legendary climbs, on the other hand, excite me.Hearing about Angliru makes my hair stand on end. When Contador won his last race up there, it was incredible..
There were fears that I would drop in the third week of the Vuelta.
I thought so a little too, but I had a little hope because on paper there were no very difficult stagesBut every day I looked at the watts I was putting out and realized they were all maxed out. Every day full throttle. My first big Giro. The third week may not have been hard, but it was hell.
You mentioned Contador…
I have a good relationship with him. We've spoken 3-4 times. He gave me a lot of advice, every time I can I try to talk to these great championsThe first time I called him, I was nervous. The same when I spoke to Purito Rodriguez. I prepared the things I would say with him beforehand…
From the juniors you went to Colpack for six months, you won the Giro d'Italia U23 and then you turned pro.
It was the most appropriate move. I could have been the best junior in the world, but I wouldn't have been able to get through right away. Go to the Colpack It gave me confidence and experience that I wouldn't have found in the first six months of the WorldTour. Running among the U23s prepares you for the top, teaches you different ways to win, how the big group worksEvery time I read about a junior turning pro, I think he would have done better to make the move to the under-23s.
What do you need to learn to win?
Today we have all the information we can think of. Power, physical data. We know how much we consume and what we need to integrate. But in racing you need experience and that is built by running.The trainer, the doctor, the nutritionist, all right and necessary… But they're not on the bike.
