- Apr 8, 2023
- 5,726
- 6,646
- 16,180
Another crash at Getxo and a DNF, which is not the ultimate warm up for the Vuelta.
- Jul 27, 2009
- 6,639
- 2,529
- 23,180
Certainly no good bodement for the upcoming Vuelta a Espana. At least not if Ayuso wants to be a factor for the overall victory. He needs the race rhythm that was missing in Switzerland & Romandie to be less fluctuating in his performances. Instead he crashed twice and had a bad day in San Sebastian.
I never expected Ayuso to be fully stable during the Vuelta a Espana. But the stage up towards Tourmalet actually favors him. No good bodement if the Pyrenees turn into anticipated time loss instead.
There's still the Vuelta a Burgos for the race rhythm of course. But Ayuso is also very young and fluctuates naturally in his performances. Jean-Claudes Leclercq always says "With the shape from spring you win every race in fall!". Ayuso's late season start and his full focus on the Vuelta a Espana, slowly building up towards the Spanish grand tour, looked like a good path to victory. Even with his injury earlier this year. That path currently narrows. He still arrives a bit fresher in Spain than his competitors, but potentially also a bit undercooked.
Evenepoel is prone to have a bad day on Angliru as well of course. Roglic has the Giro d'Italia in his legs and might end up the most gradual of the 3 contenders. While Ayuso & especially Evenepoel excel more.
Another podium spot, especially 2nd place at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana and/or a stage win up towards Tourmalet or Angliru still would be a huge success of course.
Expectations are a bit big for the kid. Since he's been so good, so early on and now even without much racing. Maybe everyone including himself needs to calm down a bit.
I never expected Ayuso to be fully stable during the Vuelta a Espana. But the stage up towards Tourmalet actually favors him. No good bodement if the Pyrenees turn into anticipated time loss instead.
There's still the Vuelta a Burgos for the race rhythm of course. But Ayuso is also very young and fluctuates naturally in his performances. Jean-Claudes Leclercq always says "With the shape from spring you win every race in fall!". Ayuso's late season start and his full focus on the Vuelta a Espana, slowly building up towards the Spanish grand tour, looked like a good path to victory. Even with his injury earlier this year. That path currently narrows. He still arrives a bit fresher in Spain than his competitors, but potentially also a bit undercooked.
Evenepoel is prone to have a bad day on Angliru as well of course. Roglic has the Giro d'Italia in his legs and might end up the most gradual of the 3 contenders. While Ayuso & especially Evenepoel excel more.
Another podium spot, especially 2nd place at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana and/or a stage win up towards Tourmalet or Angliru still would be a huge success of course.
Expectations are a bit big for the kid. Since he's been so good, so early on and now even without much racing. Maybe everyone including himself needs to calm down a bit.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 54,069
- 44,426
- 28,180
If he gets 4th behind Roglic, Evenepoel, and Vingegaard and it's not a huge amount behind the Vuelta is already good for him.
- Apr 8, 2023
- 5,726
- 6,646
- 16,180
If his form is off, then it'll be all behind Almeida at UAE.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 54,069
- 44,426
- 28,180
That should help Ayuso become a leader in the Tour next year like he was talking about
- Feb 21, 2019
- 4,379
- 7,097
- 16,180
I don't think that makes much sense. UAE should try to send their two best GT riders to the Tour in order to beat Vingegård and if Ayuso is stronger than Almeida he should be co-leader with Pogačar.
I don't think what happened in these Spanish one-day races gives us a good predictor of what is going to happen in the Vuelta though. If Ayuso gets third again this year it would already be an improvement when compared to 2022 given the stronger line-up.
- Jun 7, 2011
- 20,975
- 20,312
- 28,180
His overall shape doesn't appear to be much worse, if any, than this time last year, when he DNF San Sebastian because the pace was too high IIRC. He just could have done without the crashes of course.
- Aug 13, 2011
- 7,920
- 12,271
- 23,180
The way Vinge’s form appeared in the third week, none of them were staying close but Adam did a great job to the surprise of many.
Should just send all four of their leaders to the Tour and see what happens. Have Almeida yo-yoing off the back keeping Jumbo away like a broom, Ayuso and Adam attacking off the front, and Pog sitting on Vinge’s wheel.
What would really help UAE is a rider of WVA’s caliber that can fill so many roles.
- Apr 8, 2023
- 5,726
- 6,646
- 16,180
The new lifestyles of the top riders -
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...ur-days-a-year-where-he-can-eat-what-he-likes
In a recent interview, the UAE Team Emirates rider who finished on the podium at last year's Vuelta a Espana, gave an eye-opening insight into life as a professional bike rider and the rigours that coincide with the dedication needed to stay in top shape. Ayuso even reveals how in the whole of the year he only has "four days in which I can eat whatever I want."
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...ur-days-a-year-where-he-can-eat-what-he-likes
In a recent interview, the UAE Team Emirates rider who finished on the podium at last year's Vuelta a Espana, gave an eye-opening insight into life as a professional bike rider and the rigours that coincide with the dedication needed to stay in top shape. Ayuso even reveals how in the whole of the year he only has "four days in which I can eat whatever I want."
- Oct 10, 2015
- 3,117
- 1,654
- 16,680
Is it actually sad? He is choosing this lifestyle and sure it’s tough and involves a heap of sacrifices but it’s far from sad.sad
- Apr 10, 2019
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- 16,041
- 23,180
No, but the part where he already started working with a nutritionist at the age of 17 is a bit wild. That said, it's better to have kids work with a professional at a young age instead of starving themself and developing eating disorders.
I'm of the opinion that it should be more about developing a riders engine/total wattage and less about weight loss/power to weight at such a young age, but Ayuso also wasn't that skinny at the start of his u23 career and only really started to loose upper body mass for the Baby Giro, after he already started working with Dr. Millan.
In my opinion too young to take cycling seriously as that. You need a bit older body for starting to take GT racing so seriously.
- Apr 10, 2019
- 12,096
- 16,041
- 23,180
This, the guys who obsess over this kind of stuff at a young age are often the first ones to burn out in the pro ranks.
Good point—I don’t mean it’s sad for him. I think it’s sad for the sport (and some other sports as well) that the importance of power-weight ratio requires that kind of diet regime—and can create larger problemsparticularly for women but also for some mean who might be prone to eating disorders.
That doesn’t mean it’s wrong—the power:weight is a real difference maker—and the emphasis on it increased as it became better understood.
I’m just someone who would prefer pro cyclists didn’t have to look like refugee-camp denizens to be successful.
Ayuso has apparently been seriously training since age 12 or something. That's tough for a growing adolescent. My daughter is a good competitive swimmer, but at least she can mostly eat what she wants bc power to weight is much less important in the pool.
- Nov 16, 2013
- 26,735
- 27,853
- 28,180
- Feb 20, 2012
- 54,069
- 44,426
- 28,180
He had the support at the professinoal level from the get go no?
I'd guess it's the DIY anorexics that suffer much more
- Apr 10, 2019
- 12,096
- 16,041
- 23,180
Yeah, it's orobably more about eating clean and healthy foods than crazy diets with endurance athletes. A proper nutritionist won't have an endurance athlete on a crazy diet. The idea that kids in the youth ranks can't have a Pizza after a big race sounds just stupid.
The diy stuff often comes from stupid coaches in the youth ranks telling them "imagine how much faster you'd be climbing if you lost 4-5kg".
- Aug 3, 2015
- 22,756
- 10,725
- 28,180
Enough talk already. I expect a somewhat slow opening with small losses here and there (I could see him being 2-3 min down to Remco after the ITT), but from stage 13 on he will show why he's so talented in the high mountains once the fatigue sets in.
It's abuse. Somebody need to say it out loud. Then again i agree that most couldn't care less and some are even fantasizing on how Ayuso will win this race.
Looked good today. Attacked too early and was surrounded by 3 jumbos, so not great! Did a 30 sec pull chasing Kuss when he shouldn't be doing that, but still a good learning process.
Lacked the punch at the end given that he did too much at the front, but still I've liked what I saw.
Lacked the punch at the end given that he did too much at the front, but still I've liked what I saw.
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