Juan Ayuso discussion thread

[tobydawq]

Now we know who CyclistAbi has stolen all his full stops from.

I thought it was LS.

 

[RedheadDane]

First GC in a WT stage race.
And to think there was some concern he'd be out after stage 3...

 

[Offline]

For a long time I felt he was a little overrated, but today he stepped up. I even think he could had followed 2023 Vingegaard today.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1776679120383967714

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1776679120383967714

 

[Cookster15]

I never thought he was overrated. How can you possibly overrate someone so young - still only 21? They have not reached their potential.

 

[Landeirovic]

I never thought he was overrated. How can you possibly overrate someone so young - still only 21? They have not reached their potential.

Agree! He will top around 22/23 year

 

[Offline]

I never thought he was overrated. How can you possibly overrate someone so young - still only 21? They have not reached their potential.

You can be overrated or underrated as both old or young. I don’t think it’s an age thing but a hype thing.

Agree! He will top around 22/23 year

Why would he top at 22, 23 of age? That would be unlikely. Fx Pogacar still improving year by year.

 

[FanBoi]

For a long time I felt he was a little overrated, but today he stepped up. I even think he could had followed 2023 Vingegaard today.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1776679120383967714

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1776679120383967714

What do you base that on?

Firstly, Jonas was 13 seconds faster.
Secondly Jonas climed in headwind, wheras Ayuso climbed in tailwind. Huge difference.
Thirdly Jonas was alone, Ayuso was not.

That being said - i don't think he is overrated either. He is a huge talent.

 

[Cookster15]

You can be overrated or underrated as both old or young. I don’t think it’s an age thing but a hype thing.

Why would he top at 22, 23 of age? That would be unlikely. Fx Pogacar still improving year by year.

Nobody knows when riders will peak. I’d consider myself a neutral observer on Ayuso. Got to admit I was impressed by his early results at such a young age. Pog is an obvious outlier.

I don’t think Ayuso was hyped. To the contrary, people here started downplaying his potential prematurely IMO. Personally I like tenacious climbers - not natural climbers but strong. That’s Ayuso.

 

[DNP-Old]

Why would he top at 22, 23 of age? That would be unlikely. Fx Pogacar still improving year by year.

That's not how it works. Pogacar came in touch with professionalism at a later age, thereby leaving more room for improvement. He was 20 when he was still riding for Ljubljana, and by the time he got to UAE the Lampre stink was still over that team. Ayuso otoh, was riding high end bikes, training hard and working with a dietician at age 17, and came into a UAE team that had made strides into becoming a splendid team top to bottom.

Progression ain't a linear thing, but having access to the best situation is likely to make one peak/stagnate at an earlier age. It is something I think we'll be seeing a lot of in the near future, in this what I can professional junior era.

 

[KZD]

Even if Ayuso peaks at 23 he could still reach a level that enables him to win Grand Tours. I would actually say that the level that he showed in this Itzulia would be enough for him to win this Giro if he was the UAE leader instead of Pogačar. 2024 seems to be the year, he is stepping up to become one of the best GC riders in the world.

Next he is doing the Ardennes where I honestly don't have too many expectations and then according to PCS he is apparently riding Romandie which is a surprise given how much he is riding in April. I think originally he was planning to ride the Dauphiné even though that's not on PCS anymore, and likely without Vingegaard and Remco, he could be Roglič's only big rival there and then in the Tour, Ayuso will be a major weapon for UAE to play as he is stronger than any secondary leader.

 

[Offline]

Too inconsistent, too many off days! Ayuso trying to take Pogacar's spot as UAE leader. But tbh I think he should worry more about Del Toro for the second leader spot at the moment.

 

[Squire]

Too inconsistent, too many off days! Ayuso trying to take Pogacar's spot as UAE leader. But tbh I think he should worry more about Del Toro for the second leader spot at the moment.

2nd and 1st in two of the biggest stage races so far this year, and leading another one until today. And he said yesterday that he's been feeling iffy since Flèche Wallonne. And still only 21. I wouldn't be too worried if I was him.

 

[shadowrider]

Very interesting. After Roglic (twice I think in GT's and once in the Tour 20, and of course this year in P-N), Pogacar (Tour 22 and 23), Evenepoel (a few times), Vlasov, Rodriguez, Bernal, the Yates-brothers, now Ayuso showed weakness in a stagerace. I think only Vingegaard didn't suffer from a breakdown since he reached the top in the Tour 21. OK, he was beaten once by Pogacar in a small stagrace at a time when it didn't matter.
Vingegaard will not participate at the Tour this year or will not be in great shape, Poga will have difficulties the second half of the Tour (after the Giro), his possible successor and teammate Ayuso also has weaknesses. So, the Tour is shaping up to be very interesting and is not predictable at all.

 

[Peyroteo94]

2nd and 1st in two of the biggest stage races so far this year, and leading another one until today. And he said yesterday that he's been feeling iffy since Flèche Wallonne. And still only 21. I wouldn't be too worried if I was him.

Don't be silly. Context is very important. He would never win Pais Vasco with Vingegaard, Remco and Roglic in the race.

 

[Landeirovic]

Don't be silly. Context is very important. He would never win Pais Vasco with Vingegaard, Remco and Roglic in the race.

Right, but he won.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Too inconsistent, too many off days! Ayuso trying to take Pogacar's spot as UAE leader. But tbh I think he should worry more about Del Toro for the second leader spot at the moment.

Tbf Del Toro hasn't been consistently amazing in every race he's done this year either. Ayuso has said he's not felt great since FW and he's been good (granted only human and not extraterrestrial) in all his stage races so far this season.

 

[Berniece]

Right, but he won.

Okay then he can win a GT this year, since context doesn’t matter

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Okay then he can win a GT this year, since context doesn’t matter

Genuinely think he'd win a Vuelta this year if not for Vingegaard going there to save his injury season (can't see the dane make it for the tour with his injuries)

 

[Netserk]

2nd and 1st in two of the biggest stage races so far this year, and leading another one until today. And he said yesterday that he's been feeling iffy since Flèche Wallonne. And still only 21. I wouldn't be too worried if I was him.

Itzulia was down to one day. Today was the third in a row, and it shows.

He was also very meh on San Giacomo.

 

[AmRacer]

Ayuso is at his beach weight, hasn't been at altitude camp and isn't in peak condition.
Beach weight is good for ITT.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Right, but he won.

Discussing with a wall is tough. Have a nice day.

 

[Salvarani]

Ayuso will have a hard time trying to beat a healthy Pog or Vingegaard in a GT.

I just dont see it happening.

Anyway... what I would like to know is if Ayuso himself wanted to go to the Ardennes or the team really wanted him to try those races.

It would have probably made more sense skipping it and that he had some more rest after his win in Basque country.

Or race the Ardennes, then take a break. Not do Romandie.

Trying to do both has done him in.

 

[AmRacer]

Ayuso will have a hard time trying to beat a healthy Pog or Vingegaard in a GT.

I just dont see it happening.

Anyway... what I would like to know is if Ayuso himself wanted to go to the Ardennes or the team really wanted him to try those races.

It would have probably made more sense skipping it and that he had some more rest after his win in Basque country.

Or race the Ardennes, then take a break. Not do Romandie.

Trying to do both has done him in.

He can now have his well deserved rest, and then start building up for TdF.

 

[Berniece]

Genuinely think he'd win a Vuelta this year if not for Vingegaard going there to save his injury season (can't see the dane make it for the tour with his injuries)

Against Roglic that fell out of the TDF with a minor injury? Doubt it

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Against Roglic that fell out of the TDF with a minor injury? Doubt it

I assume Roglic will be out with a minor injury by stage 9 in the Vuelta