Juan Ayuso discussion thread

[Salvarani]

High quality field? For GC?

This is probably the weakest of the WT big 1 week fields together with Romandie

I will have you know that the new Merckx was there and finished third. He was the favorite and in the lead when he abandoned the Giro. He is part of the big 6.

Gotta count for something, aye?

Lets also not forget oldies but goldies like Bardet and Uran. Mixed with the likes of new Belgian sensation Cian Uijtdebroeks, Austrian phenomenon Felix Gall and of course the Evil Knievel of the cycling world Wilco Kelderman.

Race won by the new Danish sharknado that is Skjelmose. Fisherman will have his work cut out for him in the Tour!

An entertaining bunch to say the least.

 

[saunaking]

If he wins Vuelta this year how is next year handled?

Pog will be the primary leader until Ayuso beats him in TdF but I think now is when the team has to start making decisions about how to handle things.

If Pog wins the tour, he gets his say. If he doesn't I bet they both go

 

[Red Rick]

If he wins Vuelta this year how is next year handled?

Pog will be the primary leader until Ayuso beats him in TdF but I think now is when the team has to start making decisions about how to handle things.

Why would winning the Vuelta move him on par with the double TdF winner?

 

[ZamlinusYoutubeious]

Why would winning the Vuelta move him on par with the double TdF winner?

Because he is the 2nd coming of velasco contador 😃😄😋😅

 

[Salvarani]

If he wins Vuelta this year how is next year handled?

Pog will be the primary leader until Ayuso beats him in TdF but I think now is when the team has to start making decisions about how to handle things.

Ayuso gets a go at the Tour, if Pog wants to win the Giro.

Maybe they will even go together, if Vingegaard is super this year as well.

 

[Nick2413]

Why would winning the Vuelta move him on par with the double TdF winner?

Why wouldn’t it at least open a conversation about another big gun on the same team being in the mix at the Tour? They can do co leaders with emphasis on Pog but they could easily be neck and neck 2 weeks into a Tour. With the trajectory he’s on nothing would surprise me.

 

[Rob5091]

Ayuso IIRC has the longest contract in cycling, he's not getting bought out.

Meanwhile I think speculation about clashing with Pog over leadership way premature.

I did say next year the problem will rear it's head (even more so if Pogacar wins the Tour & Ayuso does well at the Vuelta, I'd guess). If Ineos have a poor Tour - which seems likely - what will Sir Jim do? Ring Remco's dad again?

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Well, how about: Ayuso becomes super domestique for Primoz at Jumbo, Vingegaard becomes co-leader at UAE next to Pogacar. Then we have:

Jumbo (Roglic, Ayuso)
vs
UAE (Pogacar, Vingegaard)
vs
Remco
vs
Bernal…

 

[Netserk]

Why would winning the Vuelta move him on par with the double TdF winner?

Is this about Rogla and Vingegaard?

 

[Colonel]

The way Ayuso rode in the Tour de Suisse, I'd bet next month's rent money on Sir Jim looking him up. Dropping everyone on a climb, then wining a TT, I bet Sir Dave was salivating in his caravan in Nice.

Offer was made around July last year, it was blocked.

 

[Rob5091]

Offer was made around July last year, it was blocked.

A new offer (with maybe a season ticket in the VIP box at Old Trafford thrown in, for good measure) will quite probably be made in the near future.

 

[Berniece]

It's ridiculous to think Ayuso is anywhere near the level of Pogacar. Where did he show this exactly?

 

[Cookster15]

It's ridiculous to think Ayuso is anywhere near the level of Pogacar. Where did he show this exactly?

Not sure about Pogacar level but the fuss is over this ....... but I am not sure it is accurate?

Juan Ayuso smashed times of Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich in his victory at the Tour de Suisse

Juan Ayuso has had a very complicated start to 2023 due to tendonitis from which he took a long time to recover, but since he returned in the last Tour de Romandie he has only been improving. So much...

cyclinguptodate.com

During the ascent to the Albula Pass, Juan Ayuso demonstrated spectacular power. In the last 4.5 kilometres, with an average slope greater than 7%, he developed an average of 400 watts, needing only 10 minutes and 49 seconds and reaching an average speed of 24.7 km/h

 

[Berniece]

The reaction is understandable?

Not really. I mean those figures are amazing, and I was really impressed with him in the Vuelta last year as well as his TT skills this year. But I think it’s a bit far fetched to say Pogacar should share leadership with him during the biggest race of the season.

I’m looking forward to the Vuelta this year. If he destroys the competition I’ll rethink my opinion.

 

[Cookster15]

Not really. I mean those figures are amazing, and I was really impressed with him in the Vuelta last year as well as his TT skills this year. But I think it’s a bit far fetched to say Pogacar should share leadership with him during the biggest race of the season.

I’m looking forward to the Vuelta this year. If he destroys the competition I’ll rethink my opinion.

I agree. I also just edited my comment. I think the article isn't accurate anyway, plus wind assisted etc. Its discussed in the Clinic.

 

[Rob5091]

If Ayuso does well against Roglic at the Vuelta then next year will be very interesting!

 

[perico]

Why can't Ayuso/Pog co lead vs Vingegaard/Roglic if it comes to that?

Vingegaard/Roglic is more of a mentor deal. Roglic is still capable of winning the Tour no doubt, but he probably recognizes that he’ll be 34 years old sooner rather than later and there is 8-9 years of an age gap between him and Jonas; even with his late start, Primoz isn’t going to improve anymore. Maybe he can hold his peak ala Thomas.

Pogacar, on the other hand, is at an age where he may still have room to improve, though I suspect this younger generation will peak early and start their decline earlier like they did in the 1980s and prior. Either way, he still has another 7-8 years at the top level and a guy with his palmarés isn’t likely to see his leadership usurped, even if it’s by a super talent like Ayuso.

Poor Almeida…

 

[perico]

Also a significantly more mountainous route. Last year had a whopping one HC climb and nothing remotely resembling a queen stage. This year we have two proper mountain stages in a row with Tourmalet after Aubisque and Spandelles on one day and Hourcère and Larrau on the next, and the final week isn't easy either with Angliru and double Cruz de Linares. And it isn't compensated by more TT either. Last year, Evenepoel was dealt a favourable hand, this year the deck is stacked against him if anything. He will definitely be up there with last year's form but as good as he was then, I could see him needing to be a little bit better than that now. It's set up to be a great Vuelta, more hyped than I am for the Tour tbh.

God I love La Vuelta. Long live the goat tracks

 

[Offline]

This kid need to be more consistent.
In 1 week he both won a TT over Remco and lost a TT to Lluis Mas!

 

[ZamlinusYoutubeious]

Rides like today is worrying...yes, he is young but be abit consistent. I want him to do well but hope is minimum. As someone who always support South european riders, i have been burnt too many times by them riders.

 

[Red Rick]

I was like wtf happened but oh national ITT.

This is no big deal. Clearly hes better in hilly ITTs than flat ones, plus I believe there is a tendency of TdS riders to underperform in national ITTs

In summary, confirmed overrated

 

[ice&fire]

He hit a pothole, dropped his chain and had to change bike.

Así fue la reacción de Castroviejo al enterarse por MARCA de que era campeón de España

Jonathan Castroviejo se llevó con autoridad la victoria en el Campeonato de España de contrarreloj. El vasco, que últimamente había 'abandonado' un poco la disciplina, volvió por s

www.marca.com

 

[Ricco']

It was a 52kph ITT, way faster than the ITTs he's won in Suisse and Romandie. Distance and average speed-wise, is on par with the ITT done at last year's Vuelta.

 

[tobydawq]

He hit a pothole, dropped his chain and had to change bike.

Así fue la reacción de Castroviejo al enterarse por MARCA de que era campeón de España

Jonathan Castroviejo se llevó con autoridad la victoria en el Campeonato de España de contrarreloj. El vasco, que últimamente había 'abandonado' un poco la disciplina, volvió por s

www.marca.com

Well, so did Roglic, yet he managed to win the Giro - a much bigger race than the Spanish nats. What a poor rider Ayuso proves to be.

 

[balac]

Ayuso said in an interview to MARCA that he was supposed to do only San Sebastian and Getxo before Vuelta, but they want to add some more race days. (maybe Burgos?).

He expects to be in the 2024 tdf.