The recent Tour de Suisse has marked another step in terms of generational change. If Remco Evenepoel he is now a "veteran", Mattias Skjelmose, the winner, and Juan Ayuso, Second, they are still newbies.
Ayuso, in particular, was born in 2002. We're not just discovering Juan. We followed him closely in the 2021 U23 Giro, and last year he took the podium at the Vuelta. But this time the rider of the UAE Emirates he actually enters among the giants. He was the only one to win two stages. He came close to the overall victory after a "crisis" day and, more importantly, beat Remco in the time trial.
Ayuso the meticulous
A performance like this certainly couldn't go unnoticed. One wonders how far the Spanish talent can go this year. That in the long run it will go far… well, that is already known!
«We knew Juan was fine – he comments Fabrizio Guidi, who directed him from the flagship in Switzerland – which was going strong. Today the instruments tell us a lot, but from here to winning a mountain stage and a time trial… it wasn't easy. And then it's not just the numbers that count.
«I liked this boy's meticulousness and I like it. Juan pays attention to detail in everything he does: from training to race strategy to materials. And then he loves the athlete's life. He likes running."
That it is a… racing animal he had told us in unsuspecting times also Gianluca Valoti, his sports director at Colpack Ballan: «Stopping him is sometimes impossible».
Three key moments
Evidently, Ayuso deserves to be included in the era of phenomena. "He's part," says Guidi, "of that group of youngsters who arrive on the pro scene ready to go. They gain experience more quickly. And Juan is a sponge at this.
For example, on the day of his "crisis" (third stage, ed.), when he got cold on the descent. He understood many things, especially the importance of the team, of his teammates. That day was Hirsch to save him. Then he recovered well in the final minutes, but it was still an important lesson. And when I say lesson, I don't mean punishment, but learning. Because certain experiences are best experienced as a pro. Someone like him, as an amateur, takes and wins in 10 minutes. If he has problems, he recovers. Among the pros, no, it's not like that."
For Guidi, the day of the crisis is one of the three key moments of Ayuso's Switzerland, along with the stage victory and the final victory of the time trial.
Fabrizio insists that Ayuso has raced very little this year. And this complicated matters. In some respects, he was already too fresh at the start of the Swiss race. Before the Swiss race, the Spaniard had only competed in the Romandie, also in Switzerland. And even then, he had managed to make a splash, specifically in the time trial. This time, however, the level was much higher.
Recovery skills
«The fact that Juan competed little made him arrive at the start of the Tour de Suisse with little running-in. He missed those first two or three days. And that's where we lost the race. The fourth day, when he paid the price, was a consequence of the great energy expenditure of the previous day.
«Then things changed. The champion in him came out. He got into the race rhythm, his enormous recovery skills emerged and it did what it did. That means you have an engine this big, otherwise you'll sink."
On the Albula, Juan did a mind-blowing feat. He outclassed everyone, including Remco and company. A victory of strength and tenacity. A champion's victory in his DNA. As if to say: "Did I get them yesterday? Well, I'll show you today." Not everyone is capable of reasoning like that.
«And also the final time trial – continues Guidi – Those eight seconds of advantage over Evenepoel seem small. In reality, there's a world inside. There is not only a sea of watts, there is also the ability to know how to suffer". And a great attention towards this discipline that from this year reigns in UAE Emirates.
Fairytale Tour?
Ayuso is doing very well then. His ailments seem to be completely behind him. And now where can he finish? He should race in the Vuelta, but... in theory there is the Tour that calls. It leaves from Spain and seems tailor-made for a new fairy tale, a fairy tale style pogacar. Juan could fit well in the lineup for the Grande Boucle.
«It would be perfect: and how can you say no? Physically, Juan would be ready, That's clear. But then there are other team dynamics, other plans. And he's young."
He's young: his teammate Pogacar was also young when he was thrown into the fray at the Tour (which he won) after finishing podium at the Vuelta the previous fall. If anything, Pogacar didn't have on his team at the time… Pogacar, a champion of such stature that he rightfully commands all the attention.
But that's another story. What matters is that Ayuso is showing who he is among the pros, with the same determination he showed when attacking the streets and opponents as a U23. And that time trial victory over Evenepoel is no small feat.
«Even in this case – concludes Guidi – a detail that I liked about Ayuso is that he didn't just say: "I won the time trial over Evenepoel", who in any case was coming from his own vicissitudes in Tour of Italy, but rather asked: “Where did I miss the Tour de Suisse? Where can I do better?“. Then it's clear, maybe he was happy inside himself, but I don't read it that far!”.
