Juan Ayuso discussion thread

[Rob5091]

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.

So does he think he'll be Pog's domestique or as team leader? Either way he's told UAE management what he wants.

 

[carolina]

Well... Almeida also said he wants to be in tdf 2024

Giro - Vuelta double for Pogacar next year?

 

[Bushman]

So does he think he'll be Pog's domestique or as team leader? Either way he's told UAE management what he wants.

IF Vingegaards ends up winning the Tour over Pogacar again this year, it would make good sense for UAE to send both Pogacar and Ayuso next year.

 

[staubsauger]

If Ayuso wins the 2023 Vuelta a Espana he just goes to the 2024 Tour de France as super-domestique and tries to dupe & outflank Pogacar!

 

[balac]

Doesn't talk like someone who expects to be domestiquing for anyone anytime soon. Also talks about how much better he is on ITT at the end of stage races compared to the initial ones.
https://www.marca.com/ciclismo/2023/06/23/6495474e22601d6a2b8b45cf.html

 

[Red Rick]

Doesn't talk like someone who expects to be domestiquing for anyone anytime soon. Also talks about how much better he is on ITT at the end of stage races compared to the initial ones.
https://www.marca.com/ciclismo/2023/06/23/6495474e22601d6a2b8b45cf.html

Sounds like he likes to make excuses. Unironically his results simply indicate he's much better at hilly ITTs than flat ones.

 

[Didinho]

So he would've won yesterday without the bike change if he finished only 8sec behind.

 

[Rob5091]

Look forward to seeing Ayuso against Remco at San Sebastian - a warm up for the Vuelta.

 

[balac]

Shame that Ayuso couldn't win in Ordizia due to the crash, but was super impressed with Lazkano there. Juan attacked like 4 or 5 times (and Healy and Hirschi dropped easily) and he only dropped the last 500 metres. It was a 2.8km at 7.7% climb but still. One thing that Ayuso still lacks is that top end acceleration when attacking.

Let's see what he can do tomorrow.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Shame that Ayuso couldn't win in Ordizia due to the crash, but was super impressed with Lazkano there. Juan attacked like 4 or 5 times (and Healy and Hirschi dropped easily) and he only dropped the last 500 metres. It was a 2.8km at 7.7% climb but still. One thing that Ayuso still lacks is that top end acceleration when attacking.

Let's see what he can do tomorrow.

He never had the top end acceleration, he was always more of a diesel who just grinded people down with his tempo after the initial short acceleration.

 

[Valv.Piti]

About expected today I think, he really seems to suffer in these kind of races against top competition. He should do a lot better tomorrow, but everything is about that race in Spain in a month.

 

[Red Rick]

Makes no sense to race all these spanish 1 days instead of Burgos if you're not expecting a result tbh.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Makes no sense to race all these spanish 1 days instead of Burgos if you're not expecting a result tbh.

Burgos is at a very different spot than usual, so I definitely think it does.

 

[Salvarani]

Makes no sense to race all these spanish 1 days instead of Burgos if you're not expecting a result tbh.

Pretty much the same program as last season. It went okay then... and he is arguably better now considering he finished 2nd in Tour du Suisse, where he won two stages.

3rd and 11th are not exactly bad results, either. Better results than last year so far in the first two of these races. Third still to go, where he won last year.

I trust they know what they are doing.

 

[Red Rick]

Burgos is at a very different spot than usual, so I definitely think it does.

You're right.

Bit of a dead spot on the calendar, Poland isn't exactly an enticing prep race

 

[Mayomaniac]

You're right.

Bit of a dead spot on the calendar, Poland isn't exactly an enticing prep race

That makes not moving the Österreich Rundfahrt to the same spot as the Tour de Polandball even more of a mistake.

 

[Rob5091]

UAE & Ayuso very much conspicuous by their absence at San Sebastian. Still suffering from the crash or just not got the legs? Getxo tomorrow (Sunday) for another warm-up.

 

[Rob5091]

Another crash at Getxo and a DNF, which is not the ultimate warm up for the Vuelta.

 

[staubsauger]

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.

 

[Red Rick]

If he gets 4th behind Roglic, Evenepoel, and Vingegaard and it's not a huge amount behind the Vuelta is already good for him.

 

[Rob5091]

If he gets 4th behind Roglic, Evenepoel, and Vingegaard and it's not a huge amount behind the Vuelta is already good for him.

If his form is off, then it'll be all behind Almeida at UAE.

 

[Red Rick]

If his form is off, then it'll be all behind Almeida at UAE.

That should help Ayuso become a leader in the Tour next year like he was talking about

 

[KZD]

That should help Ayuso become a leader in the Tour next year like he was talking about

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.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

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.

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.

 

[Nick2413]

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.

I think Yates could have beaten both Almeida and Ayuso this year, unless those riders could pull off finishing less than 3 min from Pogacar after domestique duties. But maybe he goes to Giro instead.