Juan Ayuso discussion thread

[perico]

As long as Pogacar is leading the team in July in 2023, there is absolutely no point in sending Ayuso to the TdF. You have Almeida and McNulty (who was an absolute monster at the Tour and still young enough to qualify for the white jersey). Plus you have Soler (who has bounced back well at the Vuelta). What would be the point of taking Ayuso if he is not ready to win? You don't take a 20 year old like Ayuso to the TdF with the pressure of taking the jersey back for Teddy P., and you don't ride with co-leaders when you have a rider like Teddy on your team. The guys won two TdFs and is still a white jersey contender. Jumbo was a different situation since neither Roglic or Jonas had already won the TdF, and it's not like Team Sky/Ineos when you have a monopoly on the strongest riders. Even with all the talent at UAE, they aren't going to be as strong as Jumbo at the Tour next year and be able to outmuscle them.

Plus it's not like Ayuso is going anywhere to get his shot. He's signed through like 2040 or something. UAE has all the cards and can bring him along slowly.

 

[JosefK]

Sitting just one spot from the podium coming into the final week of La Vuelta 2022. Not bad for a 19-year-old rider.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Ayuso is doing great in this GT. But the idea on how now obviously he must do the Tour. And preferably to win it before Pogačar won his first Tour. In my opinion this is abuse. Even with Pogačar i feel they are forcing it. At least they didn't start doing two GTs per year already. We can always do that before he is 25. And then obviously Ayuso before 21. As by the time they are 27 we will have 17 year old kids doing GTs.

 

[Red Rick]

The logical decision should be to not decide before winter training camps. If there's indication that he's progressing so fast he can compete or at least be a 2ndary leader they should go for that.

After this Vuelta he should be ahead of Almeida in pecking order already.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think the logical decision should be to try to win some good races in the spring and then go all-in on the Vuelta when you have Pogacar on your team and Auso is spanish

 

[JosefK]

Ayuso has a real shot at the podium now, with Roglic's unfortunate crash.

 

[Landeirovic]

Ayuso has a real shot at the podium now, with Roglic's unfortunate crash.

Yes right! I think he will try this week and go all in!

 

[Oliver]

What a ride so far! Podium now.!

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Incredible result today, again. Let‘s wait for his overall ranking on Saturday evening.

Should he finish this Vuelta GC on the podium (3rd rank), then he achieved this aged 19. Pogacar achieved the same aged 20 (2019).

So should Ayuso become 3rd in Vuelta GC on Sunday, then I really believe they let him ride the TdF in 2023.

 

[Sciatic]

Incredible result today, again. Let‘s wait for his overall ranking on Saturday evening.

Should he finish this Vuelta GC on the podium (3rd rank), then he achieved this aged 19. Pogacar achieved the same aged 20 (2019).

So should Ayuso become 3rd in Vuelta GC on Sunday, then I really believe they let him ride the TdF in 2023.

Hmm, I think UAEs Tour will be all in for a Pogacar win, and not sure how Ayuso would be needed if he already has enough climbing doms?

 

[groogster]

Incredible result today, again. Let‘s wait for his overall ranking on Saturday evening.

Should he finish this Vuelta GC on the podium (3rd rank), then he achieved this aged 19. Pogacar achieved the same aged 20 (2019).

So should Ayuso become 3rd in Vuelta GC on Sunday, then I really believe they let him ride the TdF in 2023.

Simply nonsense and I will tell you why. Next year Ayuso has to ride in La Vuelta and there’s no way that UAE will put Ayuso doing 2 GT in one season.
Next TDF will be around Pogacar, who still is the strongest of the UAE riders and the most secure bet for a win.
His race calendar will be having some shots at some 1 week races and then to focus for being at his peak form for La Vuelta, probably already as a leader of UAE.

 

[YavorD]

Come on, guy is 19 (okay, 20 in a few days) and people already send him to the Tour...
As impressive as he is, he is not Pogacar yet. He is Spanish, just give him the Vuelta with the intention to win it.. Perhaps co-lead with Pogacar if he wants to finally do it.

Besides, UAE can't properly support 1 leader at the Tour, let alone protecting another one.

 

[staubsauger]

Even the Giro d'Italia would be too risky. Because it's more intense and hectic in the beginning, until the big mountains arrive in the last 8 days. Who knows how he even arrives in the Alps then, after being stressed out 2 weeks beforehand.

This year's Vuelta a Espana has been pretty sorted in the first week.

2023 Vuelta a Espana it is. He can ride a full program of one week races beforehand. Catalunya, Basque Country. Maybe even Tour of Switzerland. Then rest and build towards Spain.

That should be a fine enough racing schedule for a 20 year old kid.

 

[Top Climber]

At the age of 19, Juan Ayuso became the second youngest cyclist in history to achieve a Grand Tour podium.

Henry Cornet, in 1904, did it being only four days younger in the Tour de France

 

[Eeslliw]

At the age of 19, Juan Ayuso became the second youngest cyclist in history to achieve a Grand Tour podium.

Henry Cornet, in 1904, did it being only four days younger in the Tour de France

I wasn't completely sold on him till this Vuelta even though he already had some results which are just absurd for his age. But this Vuelta was something else. Recovery is there, and even when he didn't felt good still didn't lose huge amount of time to others. He is not afraid to attack when he has the legs. Maybe he was even to eager to attack couple of times, but you can't hold that against him with being only 19y. And by my observation he has that winners mentality. Either you have it or not. You can't learn that.

Without any big injures or other misfortune we are seeing future multiple GT winner.

 

[yaco]

He showed that you can ride to your level when COVID positive if you have a low viral load.

 

[Red Rick]

I think Spain will look very attentively to what a certain 19 year old Spaniard will do tomorrow evening.

And then Ayuso being the youngest to podium a GT in over a century isn't too bad either.

 

[noob]

I still cannot get over the way he looked at Contador. It makes me believe he's amoral.

 

[Red Rick]

I still cannot get over the way he looked at Contador. It makes me believe he's amoral.

??

 

[Lequack]

Time for old Pogacar to move over, Ayuso is here.

 

[Black Betsy]

I still cannot get over the way he looked at Contador. It makes me believe he's amoral.

Perhaps he wanted some tips of pairing steaks with the best Rioja wine

 

[memyselfandI]

I still cannot get over the way he looked at Contador. It makes me believe he's amoral.

Actually I thought just the same if you mean that finish line interview.

 

[Eeslliw]

Time for old Pogacar to move over, Ayuso is here.

Pogacar to Giro next year. Leave the Tour for the big boys.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

19 year old and 3rd in a GT is absolutely absurd

 

[noob]

Actually I thought just the same if you mean that finish line interview.

Yes! It was so weird! One just doesn't look at people like that if not to challenge them/get them out of comfort. (Or get them in bed. And I don't think he tried to get Contador in bed )