analysis
Juan Ayuso won the Tirreno Adriatico. Team UAE, which was only 22 -year -old from the UAE, is compared to Tadej Pogacar – and seems to be able to win the Giro.
Juan Ayuso made the last check mark on the box on Sunday in San Benedetto del Tronto. In good hands in the middle of the peloton, he rolled over the finish line in the city on the Adriatic. His overall victory in the Tirreno Adriatico was therefore determined. “This is another step in his development. He came here to perform well. Then it worked out well with the time trial. And on the penultimate stage he really struck”said Fabrizio Guidi, sporting director of the Spaniard at UAE Team Emirates XRG, to the sports show.
There is little to add. Ayuso showed its class in all sub -disciplines that are important for a tour driver. In the opening time he was only ex-world champion Filippo Ganna. He was there in front of the smaller mountains. And on the only huge chunk of this one -week tour, the climb to Frontignano on the royal stage on Saturday, he steered away with all rivals light -footed. “If you have good things, everything will be easier for you”he said with a smile at the winning press conference.
Power duo Ayuso and del Toro
His attack had prepared another young star from the rich talenter reservoir of the racing team, the younger Mexican Isaac del Toro for a year. “He is not quite as far as Ayuso, he had lost some time before. That is why we chose this distribution of tasks “said the sporting director Guidi of the Sportschau. And he praised del Toro: “He did his job very well. And he also has a lot of potential.”
Ayuso emphasized the good relationship with del Toro: “We understand each other really well. He helped me a lot. And I hope that we will still drive a lot of races together and that I can also help him.”
The next major appointment of the two top talents is the Giro d’Italia. Both are planned for the tour. And the special thing is: you will – like the Tirreno Adriatico – be able to drive you on your own, without your excessive teammates Tadej Pogacar. “When Tadej is there, of course we drive for him. He is the best driver in the world. But that also means that you just have to use every chance that you get yourself. So I am very happy to have won here”said Ayuso.
Feelings of freedom without pogacar
And the Spaniard did not have to emphasize that he secretly glad that Pogacar is leaving the Giro this year. “We try to give the boys freedom so that they don’t lose motivation”pointed out the fine adjustment in racing planning.
However, he does not think the power density in the racing team is a problem. In addition to Pogacar and the youth duo del Toro and Ayuso, the tourist group also includes the old tour of Adam Yates and former Giro third Joao Almeida as well as the top talents Pablo Torres and Jan Christen. Giudi, the sporting director, says: “No, no, for me this is a point of strength. The drivers are on each other. And it is also better to have them in their own team than with the opponent.”
Compare with Pogacar
Ayuso now protrudes from the Phalanx behind Pogacar. In Spanish media he is even celebrated as the “little Pogacar”. And when he won the Faun Drome Classic in France in early March with a 40 km solo, this was described as: “He got a pogacar out.”
Ayuso himself finds these comparisons bittersweet. “On the one hand it is nice. Because it means that I am very similar to the best driver of the world. But on the other hand I don’t like it. I don’t want to be compared to others. My name should stand for myself.”
Cold training for the Giro d’Italia
It is quite possible that the name Ayuso will soon stand for a Grand Tour victory. In any case, he feels well prepared for the Giro for the Tirreno. Not just because of the victory: “So much rained here. I have rarely drove under such conditions. I also suffered from it. And the next day it got colder. When I saw the others suffered, it helped me a little. But I also think that such days can also come at the giro, so it was a good school that grew me mentally.”
Ayuso clearly demonstrated his talent on this tour of the meteorological turbulence. He is now ripe for the very big deeds. And even if he doesn’t like the comparison with Pogacar – he doesn’t shy away from it either. In the training camp in December, he announced that he would like to become the “best driver in the world”. No claim is too small for this great talent from Spain.